Ahead of Sydney Contemporary 2025, we spoke with Rachael Fry, Director of C. Gallery, about the gallery’s conceptual roots, curatorial focus, and what audiences can expect from their upcoming presentation. Evolving from Criteria’s design foundations, C. Gallery occupies a distinct space that bridges collectible design and contemporary art, highlighting practices that challenge category, craft, and cultural narrative. “C. Gallery developed as an extension of Criteria, integrating both physically and conceptually with the existing collection,” Fry explains.
___
Can you tell us about how C. Gallery came into existence?
C. Gallery developed as an extension of Criteria, integrating both physically and conceptually with the existing collection. It functions as a complementary platform to Criteria’s enduring commitment to collectible design, while simultaneously interrogating and blurring the boundaries between established collecting categories. This approach more accurately reflects the nuanced sensibilities and evolving aesthetic preferences of Australia’s discerning art and design community.
Nic Fern, ‘Ariadne’, 2025. Courtesy of the artists and C. Gallery. Photo by Joshua Morris.
Which artists are you presenting at Sydney Contemporary and why?
We are presenting new works by Nic Fern and Claudia Lau. In exhibiting two female Australian artists, we seek to highlight the differences and parallels between contemporary practices; both which draw from a deep historical knowledge and tradition while pushing their mediums in unexpected directions.
Nic Fern’s work offers a profound exploration of contemporary Australian notions of gender, class, and hierarchy. Through a diverse range of media including painting, drawing, stitching, and hand-built clay elements, she creates intricate wall works and illustrated vessels that cleverly incorporate iconic imagery from the Western visual art canon.
Claudia Lau’s practice straddles between experimentation and the refined. She seeks to explore the ceramic process expanded through a lens of poetic gesture, working with considered studio methodologies that flex between known and unexpected firing outcomes. Dividing her practice and time between a studio practice and a production studio based in Jingdezhen, China, this cultural exchange has developed her deep connection with the tradition of ceramics and experimental production methods.
Nic Fern, ‘Liberty Leading the People’, 2025. Courtesy of the artists and C. Gallery. Photo by by Joshua Morris.
Could you share one of the most memorable times you’ve had working as a gallerist?
There’s something uniquely thrilling about witnessing an artist’s work during the installation of an exhibition. Even after seeing the full arc—from early concepts and sketches to preview imagery and final photography—the work never feels entirely real until it takes its place in the physical space. Understanding the immense effort that goes into developing a cohesive body of work only deepens the excitement when it’s finally ready to be shared with the world. It’s a feeling that never gets old.
Claudia Lau, ‘Index 1’, 2024. Courtesy of the artists and C. Gallery. Photo by Simon Strong.
Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the next 10 years of C. Gallery?
I hope that our exhibitions will continue to surprise, resonate with, and deeply engage those who encounter it. It is a privilege to share the works of the remarkable artists we represent—each of them bringing a unique perspective to the cultural landscape.
Claudia Lau, ‘Index 2’, 2024. Courtesy of the artists and C. Gallery. Photo by by Simon Strong.
______
C. Gallery will present work by Claudia Lau and Nic Fern at Sydney Contemporary 2025. Tickets to Sydney Contemporary are on sale now.
Cover photo by Sean Fennessy
