Members' News

Patrick Duffy – Artist Statement

LIFE BEYOND THE BOX: 2026 Exhibition
KANK WOLVERANG GALLERY
30 Main Road, Bakery Hill, Ballarat
10.30 – 5.00 Thursdays to Sundays in AUGUST 2026

Following on from my 2023 exhibition, a chaotic dive into a scattered mind excitingly exploring the medium of recycled cardboard. This show sees a more in-depth approach to my work.

LIFE BEYOND THE BOX is an exploration of aspects of my life, sculptured cardboard busts speak to the celebrations, connections, struggles, and growth of my world over the last 3 years.

Each bust exists on the foundation of a sculptured cardboard skull and part skeleton to add a hidden layer to the sculpture, though not seen it exists to support and offer a sense of life beyond the material.

Cardboard connected me to my childhood, the ultimate raw material of my play. Cartons became castles, race cars, spaceships, and secret hideouts. My imagination didn’t just see boxes; it saw possibility.

Cardboard, humble as it is, now, as an artist, offers endless surprises in texture, form, colour, and strength and I invite the viewer to reconnect with their own sense of play.

By repurposing what’s usually thrown away, I also hope to start a conversation about consumption and sustainability, while showing that beauty (and a bit of mischief) can be found in the everyday.

Because in the end, a sculpture should speak for itself — whether it’s carved in marble, cast in bronze, or ripped, cut & torn, from an dis-guarded carton.

As you stand in the centre to observe these characters of my life – know that they are silently observing you in return.

It’s my art looking at you looking at art. Patrick Duffy - The Cardboard Guy 0425820077

Enjoy.

Kank Wolverang Gallery
Main Road Bakery Hill
Thursday to Sundays – August 2026

LIFE BEYOND THE BOX

An exhibition in cardboard of Art looking at you looking at art

Award winning cardboard artist Patrick Duffy’s solo exhibition of recycled cardboard busts turns the act of viewing into a quiet confrontation.

Each sculpture, rough-edged yet meticulously shaped, depicts anonymous faces that seem to watch the audience as closely as they are being observed.

Naturally I'd also like to invite any interested members to the opening at 2pm on the 2nd of August if anyone fancies a roadtrip to The Rat!

Congratulations again on being selected as a Finalist in the Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award 2026! Marija Patterson, Andre Sardone.

Have You any Old Slides?

“My name is Peta Tranquille and I recently won the Tina Wentcher second prize at the annual awards with my sculpture of vintage slides.

I had a few artists ask if they could donate old slides for my future works.”

MEDIA

Social Media- Don’t forget to @ !!

Bonnie Cruickshank has joined the social media team!! I think most of you have noticed how this has given a boost to our social media.

We have a few plans, for when our busy lives give us time to actually get together- but for now- Know that your sculptures are in good hands promotion wise…

Bonnie took on Herring Island- and this has led to an increase in visitors and in followers.

If you @sculptors_victoria in your post- it gets sent to us, and with one click your post is broadcast to all our followers, instead of just your own. This is good for you… And good for us. As we can post without thinking- and are promoting our members to a wide public- which is our aim.

If you have any cool photos of you in your studio- we are also very happy to repost- and… We will approach some of you soonish with a few questions so we can deepen our public’s knowledge about our members' art practices.

The NEW ASV website has social media links as an option so if you have an Instagram page for your work - tell the world! The page is still your profile with the ASV rather than a personal web page. So set up your own web page and link it to get full coverage of all your work and not just the work you show with Sculptors Victoria.

Cheers! Bonnie and Aukje