Raw and Refined
Phoebe Porter
1 – 11 November 2026
Location | Departures Lounge, Canberra Airport, 21 Terminal Avenue, Canberra Airport 2609
Opening Hours | Open Daily, 5am-11pm
Entry | Free | No bookings required
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Raw and Refined is an exhibition of new work by established contemporary jewellery Phoebe Porter that investigates the dualities of raw/worked, natural/cultural and material/meaning. The project explores refinement both as an artistic act, distilling ideas and forms to their essence, and as a material process in which raw elements are transformed to become workable.
For this series, Phoebe juxtaposes unaltered natural specimens, such as native gold and uncut gemstones, with her signature precision-made components that have undergone extensive refinement through mining, alloying, cutting and finishing. She employs innovative construction methods where the specimens are “captured” in specially designed settings, preserving the raw materials in their original state while creating a conceptual and visual contrast with the highly worked elements.
Raw and Refined asks what makes jewellery “precious”. Beyond material rarity, it considers artistic intent, conceptual meaning, craftsmanship, uniqueness and sentimental value. By highlighting both the origins of materials and the labour of making, the works invite reflection on sustainability, environmental impact and the value of the handmade, a powerful message of dissent in a world of consumerism, marketing and mass production.
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Phoebe Porter is an Australian contemporary jeweller whose work combines geometric abstraction, bold colour, and the careful balancing of contrasting elements, drawing inspiration from the Bauhaus and Russian Constructivism. Trained in gold and silversmithing, she skilfully combines industrial materials and processes with precious elements, employing refined hand-making skills and an innovative design language developed over 25 years of practice.
Phoebe’s work is highly collectable and held in public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia, and the Powerhouse Museum. In addition to regular exhibitions across Australia, Phoebe has been invited to show in London, Japan, Germany and Washington. Her accolades include a Victoria Premier’s Design Mark, being name DESIGN Canberra Festival Designer-in-Residence, and grants from the Australia Council, Arts Victoria and Arts ACT.
Phoebe works from her heritage studio at Gorman Arts Centre, where she continues to produce her distinctive, internationally recognised jewellery.
SEE ARTIST WEBSITE HERE
Proudly supported by Canberra Airport
Images | Phoebe Porter | Raw and Refined 2025 | Photos by 5 Foot Photography