Coalescence—meaning ‘merging of elements to form one whole’—is an apt title for this exhibition, which draws together thirty years of sculpture (and drawings) by Bartlett, who is one of Australia’s preeminent artists.

The exhibition has been designed as an introduction to the work of Bartlett, who is perhaps best known for his major commission The Messenger (1983), which adorned the National Gallery of Victoria’s moat for twenty years. In later years Bartlett’s work has diversified into more organic and rounded forms, having initially been heavily influenced by the work American artist David Smith.

Coalescence coincides with the installation of Bartlett’s major public sculpture Pirouette at the Port of Sale, which was generously donated through the Australian Government Cultural Gifts Program in 2021.

Curated by Dr Louisa Waters

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