Emerging from an artist-run ethos, co-directors Carolyn Craig and Damien Dillon run SYRUP Contemporary as a hybrid gallery bridging independent project spaces and commercial platforms, with a focus on forward-thinking, regionally connected artists across the Asia-Pacific. As the gallery prepares to make its Sydney Contemporary debut across the Futures and Paper sectors, we spoke about scaling up ambitious practices, cultivating international conversations and what to expect from their upcoming fair presentations and expansion plans.
You initially expanded from a studio-sized room in Chinatown into your current warehouse in Marrickville. How has this dramatic shift in scale and location altered your curatorial vision and the types of ambitious work you are able to platform?
Our wonderful tiny Chinatown space established a strong curatorial vision which has become more ambitious and focused in the new space. Each of our artists share this vision to create internationally facing exhibitions at the forefront of our region. While the ambition has grown, our commitment remains the same—to present contemporary practices that are at the forefront of artistic discourse within our region while connecting them to broader international conversations.
SYRUP operates on a hybrid model, bridging the gap between an independent project space and a commercial gallery. Coming from an artist-run ethos, how does this inform the gallery program?
We are committed to championing work that is forward-thinking, distinctive and responsive to the cultural moment. This often means supporting projects that might traditionally be associated with institutional contexts, whether through large-scale exhibitions, collaborations with guest curators, or ambitious new commissions.
We see these projects as an investment in our artists’ long-term development. They create opportunities for experimentation, expand audiences and position artists for future institutional and international engagement. At the same time, we believe collectors are increasingly looking for works that challenge conventions and contribute to broader cultural conversations. Our goal is to build a sustainable model that enables artists to make ambitious work while connecting them to growing markets across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Ruth Marbun, Trajektori 17, 2023
How would you define the core of SYRUP’s identity, and why is a regional connection so vital to what you do?
I think our name speaks to some of our identity – we are fluid and interesting and maybe a tiny bit sticky and delicious. At our core, we are interested in artists whose practices reflect contemporary conditions and who engage with the unique cultural dynamics of our region.
The Asia-Pacific is becoming an increasingly important centre for contemporary art, and we see tremendous potential in fostering stronger connections within these networks. For us, regional engagement is not simply a market strategy; it’s about recognising the cultural specificity, histories and perspectives that shape the work of our artists. We are interested in contributing to a more regionally connected and globally relevant conversation that moves beyond traditional Eurocentric frameworks.
Making your first appearance here, what do you hope fairgoers take away from their encounter with SYRUP?
I hope Fairgoers encounter something exciting from the SYRUP booths. We want the SYRUP presentations to feel fresh, ambitious and reflective of the extraordinary calibre of artists we represent. More than anything, we hope people engage deeply with the work, connect with the artists’ ideas and come away with a sense that these are practices contributing meaningfully to contemporary culture on an international stage.
Left: David Haines, perfume sketchbook 4. Right: Eleni Ioakimidis, Untitled, 2026
Participating across both the Futures and Paper sectors, what can we look forward to at this year’s presentation and how did you curate these two distinct presentations?
This year’s presentation reflects the breadth of our program while highlighting artists working across diverse contemporary media. We will be launching a new perfume work by artist duo Haines & Hinterding during the VIP Preview. Developed from a sonic note, the work distils the conceptual sophistication of their practice into a sensory experience and offers collectors an accessible entry point into their broader oeuvre.
We are also delighted to introduce the remarkable painter Eleni Ioakimidis and to release a limited-edition vinyl work by Nova Milne.
Our Paper presentation brings together three artists with established international profiles, each exploring the body and its relationship to contemporary culture in distinct ways. The presentation includes works by Mike Parr, created in collaboration with gallery director Carolyn Craig, alongside mixed-media works by Jakarta artist Ruth Marbun and a new suite of drawings by Heath Franco. Together, the booth explores embodiment, identity and contemporary experience through the lens of works on paper.
Installation View, EO Gill, Sendiment, 2026. Photo: Zan Wimberley
Installation View, EO Gill, Sendiment, 2026. Photo: Zan WimberleyWhat’s next for SYRUP Contemporary?
Following Sydney Contemporary, we are excited to present solo exhibitions by Luke Parker and Ben Reid, followed by a major exhibition by Haines & Hinterding, and subsequent presentations by Szymon Dorabialski and Nicholas Currie.
Alongside these exhibitions, we will be undertaking a significant renovation of the gallery to create a purpose-built stockroom and dedicated viewing space. We are also exploring opportunities to participate in our first international art fair. These developments reflect our continued investment in our artists, our collectors and the long-term growth of the gallery as a platform for ambitious contemporary practice.
Sydney Contemporary returns to Carriageworks from 3 – 6 September. Tickets are on sale now
