Breathing Colours: A New Chapter

As 2011 rolled in, it brought with it big changes for Breathing Colours. After 3 years, Chloe Waddell, the founder of Breathing Colours, has handed over the reins as she heads off onto new adventures in life! She has created an amazing gallery space and will be missed and we wish her the of best luck in her future endeavours.

This leads us to the introduction of Breathing Colours' (BC) new owner, Jessica Page! Coming from a background in contemporary jewellery (completed her B.V.A. at Sydney College of the Arts majoring in Jewellery and Object Design), Jess is a practicing jewellery artist as well as previously working as gallery and education assistant at Object Gallery, Sydney. She is enjoying her new role as gallery owner and director of Breathing Colours and hopes to "bring emerging and established Australian artists to the forefront and bridge the gap between commercial and artist run galleries."

With a new owner, come new pieces available in the BC gallery retail store. Originally known for its strong contemporary jewellery basis, the store is broadening its collection by introducing more glassware, ceramics and textile works by Sarah O' Sullivan, little luv and Karen Cunningham, to name a few.

We are excited to keep you up to date on this blog, with weekly posts about: our artists, new works in the store and of course our fortnightly exhibitions. Hope you all have a Happy Easter!

Introducing: Sarah O'Sullivan

"My work has always drawn from domestic function as a context, yet I rarely produce anything functional. Rather, I hope to promote reflection on the purpose of these objects.
The process utilised is a contradiction to the final pieces created- I employ a production process of slip-casting that is designed to create exact replicas, however the end result is always unique, one-off pieces. It’s easy to overlook something ordinary we use everyday; my work is trying to expel the overlooked everyday use of ceramics, and instead highlight the beauty we can find in the objects around us.
I intend for my ceramics to contemplate the relationship we have with objects in our environment, with a heavy emphases on both the final aesthetic result and the making process. I am interested in creating objects of curiosity as well as of beauty, resulting in a combination of both functional and non-functional pieces.

Within my art practice, I also have a love of re-using and reinterpreting or reconceptualising objects and designs; and have often utilised traditional forms or found objects to which I can add a new story, whilst still referencing the notion of sentiment. I love that these forms act as reminders of previous generations, and the role that ceramics played within their social culture." - Sarah O'Sullivan.

Introducing: little luv

  "While most people would overlook a discarded sewing machine by the side of the road, one entrepreneurial mother, Mardi Zeunert, saw it as an opportunity to unleash her creative passion and as a result, bespoke toys, little luv was born. A year ago, the thrifty mother-of-one, sought an activity to occupy her time while daughter, Poppy, then aged one, napped. It was a no brainer that the former Adelaide Festival media ticketing officer embarked on a creative venture, demonstrating an artistic flair producing a book, Vintage Colour in 2005, with London photographer,

Steven Morris, showcasing the Australian Wine Industry. “The catalyst for little luv was when I bought a mobile over the Internet and was disappointed with its quality,” Mardi said. “Following a sewing lesson from a friend, I planned to borrow my mum’s machine to get things started, but after finding the machine, I no longer needed mum’s,” she said. Now 12 months on, little luv is a mainstay at local markets including the hugely popular Mathilda’s market, Mardi often selling out of the popular handmade toys such as the Birdy Mobiles, Do Not Disturb Birdies and Nonite Owls.

“I adore the market atmosphere, particularly the face-to-face contact with customers

and get a real kick out of seeing the joy on their faces,” Mardi said. “It’s really heartening to know that the products can bring so much happiness to both the purchaser and the receiver – just as much of a buzz as I get from making them.” Mardi said while her little luv creations were designed for expectant mums and young children, the products were proving to be very popular with adults too. “The Birdy Mobiles have taken off with adults. Several women have purchased the Mobiles to hang in their offices and homes. Some of the items have even been bought and sent across to England and the United States as one-of-a-kind presents for homesick Australian expats and their children,” Mardi said.

Not only does Mardi adore trawling through unique vintage fabrics at opportunity shops, but also her hand crafted toys deliver a message with names such as ‘Save the Whaley’. She also loves incorporating some ‘vintage Australiana fabrics’ into her creations, depicting Australian wildflowers and Aboriginal motifs. She is also thrilled to have started using an eco-friendly corn fibre filling in all her creations, manufactured in Australia. “I’m all for instilling some positive messaging in ‘little luvs’ about nurturing the environment, animals and human beings. There’s a wonderful synergy between education and play, so I was keen to incorporate the two.” said Mardi."

Introducing: Karen Cunningham

"Based in Adelaide, Australia, Karen Cunningham divides her time between Blue Pony Studio and JamFactory – Centre for Contemporary Craft and Design. She completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Glass) degree at the South Australian School of Art, University of South Australia. Her Honours (First Class) work was selected for the PICA National Graduate Exhibition, 2005, and given the Design Institute of Australia Achievement Award for Glass Design. During the two year Design Associate intensive training program at JamFactory, she was selected for the Pilchuck Scholarship, taking her to Seattle for a workshop at the renowned Pilchuck Glass School.

Highly skilled in glass-blowing, she has worked and trained in the U.S.A, Turkey and Germany, most recently returning from Europe and the U.K where she was mentored by design legend Marc Newson. She was also a guest at Kosta Boda glass factory in Sweden, Droog Design in Amsterdam as well as attending many other centres for design and glass in Europe. The objects she creates are unique and greatly considered as she manages to combine the design element with the hand-made. Her work has won two national design awards." - K. Cunningham

Glass Artist Katherine Lys

Katherine Lys is a glass artist originally from Calgary, Canada, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in glass. She is currently living and working in Perth. Lys has been the recipient of several awards and exhibits regionally and nationally. Her focus is blown glass, but she also works with glass fusing and slumping, as well as woodcarving and life drawing.
Katherine's work centers around juxtaposition - how one colour lays against another, or how two materials highlight each other's qualities.  However, she is more interested in the subtle discrepencies rather than stark contrast - asking what makes us the same, rather than what makes us different? 
Katherine is currently working with Anne Clifton who's exhibition we have on display until the 18th of September. If you flick back to the earlier post on 'how to make a furnace' you will see both Anne and Katherine working their magic with glass.

“New Chevron: Bead Objects of Desire” A collectable contemporary look at an ancient tradition of glassmaking by Anne Clifton

“New Chevron: Bead Objects of Desire” A collectable contemporary look at an ancient tradition of glassmaking. On show at Breathing Colours Gallery from Tuesday 7th until Sat 18th September.

Making glass beads has become a very popular hobby throughout Australia. With numerous classes and workshops on making your own glass beads, it is no surprise we see so many of them throughout shops, galleries and market stalls. With such a flooded market however, the term glass bead can conjure up some unfortunate images.

Anne Clifton has this same passion for making beads but unlike many of the others, she is a glassmaker by profession. These are glass beads unlike any you’ve seen before. With such amazing colours, patterns and exquisite workmanship, these are beautiful objects in their own right without any need to be attached to a necklace. Each piece is very carefully finished to the highest standard with every edge smoothed and every side polished. They feel like little treasures when you hold them in your hand.

“I do have a fascination with beads: seashells with holes in them, limestone with holes in it, driftwood with holes in it, tools, cans, really anything with a hole in it is a bead to me.
I think this stems from an overly abundant childhood full of frustrations. Wanting to create but not having the technology to do ANYTHING. So basically things with holes became my doorway to art”

Anne was born in the South West Tall Timbers country of Western Australia. At the age of four, her family moved to the US as her parents thought it “the best place for educating girls.” Here Anne spent the long summer holidays traipsing around the continent. History, Geography, and Sociology were constant topics and every roadside marker had its relevance to The Education. As a result Anne’s constant source of interest and amusement was more knowledge. Upon their return to Australia, Anne’s thirsty mind naturally turned to the arts, here she was able to play at processes, techniques of expression and heavy machinery.


Many years later finally hot glass has stopped this dilettante –ism. That, and a partner who knows more about something than she does. The result is Glass Manifesto, the studio and gallery Anne established in 2003 with her partner Peter Bowles. Check out their website for more examples of Anne and Peter’s work.

New jewellery By Mollusc Designs

We have just displayed exciting new jewellery by Mollusc Design! this is a small sample of the extensive collection of rings, bangles and earrings we have in the gallery.

'Mollusc Design' is union, concept, and vision of 2 artists/designers based in Sydney, Australia: Scott Symington and Voola Taka-Symington.

Our work merges qualified study (Cert. Dip. Bachelor Fine-art, Graphic Design, Jewellery making) with different cultural influences, travel, life experiences, and a shared lifetime passion to connect through use of the eye/hand/soul.


Beauty can be found everywhere, and this is where we seek it, painstakingly sourcing inspiration and materials, striving to create unique designs,with the inventive use of resin, precious and semi precious stones and metals, recycled and found objects.

All pieces are high quality, handmade originals. Limited reproduction is possible only where materials allow. Custom ordering is a welcomed challenge.

'Mollusc Design' is about creating, exploring, experimenting, erring, learning and growing.

'Mollusc Design is the love of art and life in all its forms and glory.