The Material Turn
After years dominated by digital spectacle and AI-driven experimentation, many artists are returning to the physical, tactile qualities of making. Textiles, ceramics, weaving and works created from locally sourced or sustainable materials are gaining renewed attention for their intimacy and presence.
Reflecting a broader cultural desire to reconnect with the handmade and the human touch, these works powerfully convey the human spirit by connecting with our own histories through craftsmanship. As the boundaries between art, craft and collectible design continue to blur, material-led practices are increasingly being recognised for both their aesthetic and cultural significance
In this conversation, artists, designers and curators explore why materiality matters now, and how contemporary makers are transforming traditional techniques into compelling new artistic languages.
Alison Kubler | Host
Sally Dan Cuthbert | Speaker
David Caon | Speaker
Alex Seton | Speaker
Grace Lillian Lee | Speaker
Each talk runs for approximately 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A. A valid ticket to Sydney Contemporary 2026 is required for entry to this talk. Buy tickets online here.
About the Speakers
Alison Kubler has a double major in Art History from the University of Queensland, Australia, and a Masters in Post-war and Contemporary Art History from Manchester University, England. She has over 30 years of experience as a curator in museums and galleries in Australia, as well as on major public art commissions. She worked as Arts Adviser to the Federal Minister for the Arts and Sport, held full-time curatorial positions at QUT Art Museum and Gold Coast City Art Gallery, and served as Associate Curator at the University of Queensland Art Museum. Alison is the Editor in Chief of VAULT (vaultmagazine.com), a journal focused on art and culture, and a regular contributor to various art magazines and journals. She served as a Member of the Council of the National Gallery from 2018 to 2024, was the Chair of the Collections Committee of the National Gallery, and a Committee Member of Know My Name. In 2026, she was appointed a member of the Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees and a Board Member of Australasian Dance Collective.
Sally Dan-Cuthbert has worked in the art and design industry for over 35 years as an esteemed advisor, curator, art specialist, and, most recently, launching Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert in August 2019. Dan-Cuthbert has built up important relationships with artists, curators, galleries and collectors, which has kept her at the top of her profession. She was previously employed by Christie’s, Australia and continues to operate as an industry-respected independent art advisor. Her clients range from private collectors to corporations with noteworthy collections. Dan-Cuthbert works closely with artists, designers, architects and collectors to facilitate meaningful exchanges and thoughtful collecting practices.
David Caon is a Sydney-based industrial designer and creative director working across aviation, product, furniture, interiors and brand. David is a Polestar Ambassador, and Founder of Caon Design Office.
Alex Seton is a multidisciplinary Australian artist working across sculpture, photography, video, installation, and augmented reality. Best known for his contemporary marble carvings, Seton combines traditional craftsmanship with conceptual exploration, using materiality as a poetic tool to reflect on issues of nationhood, identity, privacy, and the tension between individual and society. Seton’s work has been exhibited widely across Australia and internationally, with major commissions and exhibitions presented at leading institutions, as well as significant public galleries and museums nationwide. His work is held in prominent public and private collections, and he has been the recipient of major awards and commissions.
Grace Lillian Lee was born and raised in Cairns, Queensland. Lee uses fashion and adornment to represent her diverse cultural heritage, while being inspired by the beauty of the ocean and the Great Barrier Reef. Lee has become known for her wearable interpretations of Torres Strait Island weaving techniques, known as prawn-weaving. Swapping the traditional palm leaf for pre-dyed cotton webbing, Lee pushes the boundaries of traditional techniques to create layered woven body sculptures and accessories. By bringing such techniques into the contexts of both art and fashion, Lee has engaged a wide audience, allowing her to develop a successful business based on woven accessories, that celebrate and explore her lineage.
About Sydney Contemporary
Sydney Contemporary, presented by MA Financial Group, returns to Carriageworks from 3-6 September, bringing together 100 galleries from nine countries for the 10th edition of Australasia’s premier art fair. For four unforgettable days of discovery, conversation and spectacle, Carriageworks becomes the centre of the art world in our region. Alive with buzzing crowds, ambitious installations, performances, talks and inspiring encounters with artists and galleries, it’s Sydney’s most exciting cultural event this spring and an event not to miss.
Image: Alex Seton, The Fabulists, 2025, A Person of Substance (Life size) 2024, Queensland Pearl marble (Wakaman), cosmetic mica powder, 148 x 116 x 105 cm. COurtesy Sulliva+Strumpf. Photography by Mark Pokorny
