Robert Foster 10 Year Memorial Exhibition
Sean Booth | Cinnamon Lee | Blanche Tilden | Oliver Smith | Elizabeth Kelly | Dan Lorrimer | Ben Blakeborough | Sabine Pagin | Lara Knott | Erica Seacom | F!NK Designs
7 – 15 November 2026
Location | Grainger Gallery, 1/34 Geelong St, Fyshwick ACT 2609
Opening Hours | Open Wednesday–Sunday, 11am-5pm or by appointment
Entry | Free
Access | template, template, template
EXHIBITION OPENING EVENT | FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER, 6PMRobert Foster 10 Year Memorial Exhibition is a special tribute to an extraordinary maker and a celebration of his enduring legacy in Australian design practice.
Following the FINK collaborative Jug Project in 2021, this exhibition brings together 10 of Robert's most significant original works alongside new collaborative pieces by artists whose practices were deeply shaped by Robert's influence, or with whom he shared meaningful creative partnerships. Together, these works honour the lasting impact of a maker whose vision continues to resonate across contemporary craft and design.
Each participating artist was invited to select a piece from the FINK product range and transform it into something that reflects both their own practice and the collaborative spirit that defined Robert's approach to making. FINK supplied each artist with their chosen product in preferred colours, finishes and sizes, with no limits on scale or quantity, allowing the freedom to create something truly personal and special.
The exhibition features new works by Sean Booth, Cinnamon Lee, Blanche Tilden, Oliver Smith, Dan Lorrimer, Ben Blakeborough, Sabine Pagin, Larah Knott, Erica Seacom and the FINK team.
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Sean Booth grew up in the fast paced city of Sydney, but later moved to Canberra to commence study, where he began his career as a metalsmith. In 2002 Sean completed his undergraduate studies at The Australian National University School of Art in the Gold and Silversmithing workshop and recently established a workshop in the Canberra region.
His practice consists of two main threads of investigation. One thread focuses on the more traditional use of silver and hammer work within a contemporary context, and the other challenges geometry and the structures that can be built with a sense of fluidity. His work encompasses many varied forms such as sculptural works, lights and limited-edition series.
SEE ARTIST INSTAGRAM HERE -
Larah Nott is a jewellery and object maker based in Queanbeyan, Australia. After travelling Australia and Europe as a chef and studying jewellery design and manufacture in London and Melbourne Polytechnic, she moved to Canberra in 2012. Larah graduated from the Australian National University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Design Art, Gold and Silversmithing.
She has exhibited in Australia, Taiwan, Japan, USA, France, Germany, Greece, Spain and Thailand with work in public and private collections. She is also the winner of national and international prizes for object making.
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Cinnamon Lee is an Australian Artist who specialises in finely crafted contemporary jewellery and lighting. Trained in the discipline of gold and silversmithing, and one of the first Australian jewellers to harness the potential of digital fabrication, her practice now spans three decades. During this time she has been the recipient of numerous awards and established an international reputation as a pioneer in her field.
As well as exhibiting regularly throughout Australia, Lee has also been invited to exhibit in New York, London, Germany, Hong Kong and Japan, where she has received accolades for her unique and innovative designs. Lee’s work is highly collectable, and both her lighting and jewellery are represented in the National Gallery of Australia.
SEE ARTIST WEBSITE HERE -
Dan Lorrimer is a sculptor and designer living and working in Canberra. His practice incorporates sculpture and object design. At the heart of his practice is a deep understanding of materials and processes with an emphasis on creating new ways to utilise these technologies in the fields of art and design. His work illustrates a keen sense of exploration through making. Dan explores notions of movement, energy, solidity and illusion through minimalist sculptural forms, often located between the artificial and natural world.
Dan commenced his studies at the Australian National University School of Art in 2005, graduating in 2009. During this time he also began working with many established local artists and designers including Richard Whitely, Matthew Curtis and F!INK & Co. Through his direct contact with industry leaders, Dan has developed a passion for creating, spanning both art and production design. With unwavering dedication, Dan has developed a highly productive studio specialising in metal forming.
SEE ARTIST WEBSITE HERE -
Sabine Pagin trained as a jeweller and gemmologist in her native Switzerland before establishing and artistic career in Australia. Her lifelong love for architecture and ongoing interest in the interrelationships between people, objects and environments led to the award of a PhD in Architecture from the University of South Australia (2017).
Her research on the significance of spatial and sensorial experiences in place making and their role on memories continues to inform interdisciplinary and collaborative projects with other artists, architects, photographers and makers.
Alongside her professional career as a creative practitioner, Pagan has also built a longstanding career in the tertiary education sector, both as an academic and professional leader.
SEE ARTIST WEBSITE HERE -
Blanche Tilden has exhibited contemporary jewellery nationally and internationally since 1990. An innovative approach to materials, in particular, glass, has developed over this time. A desire to understand how things work, the relationship between the machine and the handmade, between the built environment and the individual, continually inspires Blanche’s jewellery.
SEE ARTIST WEBSITE HERE -
A practising artist with 30 years of experience working, teaching and contributing to the sector, Erica Seccombe resides in semi-rural New South Wales on the traditional lands of the Ngambri and Ngunnawal peoples, working across the Canberra region.
Erica's interdisciplinary, practice-led research is nationally and internationally recognised, spanning lens based imaging, print media and drawing, as well as experimental digital platforms utilising frontier scientific visualisation software. A recurring theme in her work is the complex relationship humans have with nature and their natural environments, as shaped by social, cultural and technological factors. Through practice-led research, Erica explores ways to articulate her own experiences and concerns as an artist living in a time of uncertainty, where human activity has a profound influence on the environment and climate.
SEE ARTIST WEBSITE HERE -
Oliver Smith began his tertiary studies in the Jewellery and Object Studio at Sydney College of the Arts, the University of Sydney, and completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 1995. This was followed by a period of work experience, modelled on the traditional journeymanship, that saw him work for prominent silversmiths and metalworkers in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Germany and England. Returning to formal study in the Gold and Silversmithing Workshop at the School of Art, Australian National University, Oliver gained First Class Honors in 2000 and a Master of Philosophy in 2003. Since that time, Oliver has maintained an active research profile as an artist and has presented his work through exhibitions nationally and internationally. From 2005, Oliver has worked as an academic at Sydney College of the Arts, The University of Sydney and in 2021 was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy.
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F!NK + Co. was established by Robert Foster in 1993 in Queanbeyan, NSW, Australia, with the aim of creating a design and manufacturing business that would support and generate opportunities for Australian designer-makers. Joined by Gretel Harrison in 1995, together they built F!NK + Co. into the business it is today – a much loved and respected Australian design company with an international reputation for producing world-class tableware, hollowware, jewellery and lighting.
Be it the iconic F!NK Water Jug, the squashed Storage Vessels, the graceful Coolamon Platters, the Ned Kelly-esque Wine Chiller or the subtle curves of the Beaker, every F!NK product melds refined craftsmanship with shapes and colours largely inspired by the Australian landscape – tropical corals, fish and anemones, endless blue skies and vast ancient deserts.
F!NK is the promise of modern design excellence, uniting the utmost respect for the design ethic with that refined craftsmanship. This craftsmanship combines traditional artisanal practices alongside innovative contemporary manufacturing techniques joined with the wit and rigour of designer-founder Foster.
Tragically, Foster was killed in a car accident in July 2016. Today, F!NK + Co. is spearheaded by Gretel Harrison, who is not only the face of the company but who also leads a dynamic team of practitioners. The company has continued to go from strength to strength as Gretel and the F!NK staff builds on the legacy of Robert Foster.
SEE WEBSITE HERE
Proudly supported by F!NK + Co.
Images
Fink Butterfly Mobiles | Image courtesy of F!NK & Co
2024 Robert Foster Metal Prize Exhibition | Winner, Larah Nott, Sake Set number 2 | Emerging Artist Winner, Jenny Johnstone, Vessels | Photos by 5 Foot Photography
Fink Jugs and Beakers | Photo courtesy Craft + Design Canberra