Rarely-shown works from the Shepparton Art Museum Collection and large-scale loan works to feature in new exhibition The Shape of Things to Come.

Opening to the public on 22 February 2025, The Shape of Things to Come is a new exhibition from Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) exploring themes of dystopia and utopia across painting, works on paper, ceramics, and sculpture. Curated by SAM Artistic Director Danny Lacy, the exhibition pairs artworks from the SAM Collection with key loan artworks to evoke and inspire perspectives on our future.

Borrowing its name from a 1933 science fiction novel written by H.G. Wells that imagines an alternative future society, The Shape of Things to Come provides a window into an unknown future where artists investigate ideas of progress, transformation, and adaptation through diverse mediums and bold visions. The artworks grapple with both the destruction we face and the potential for renewal, offering a powerful reflection on how art can act as both a warning and a catalyst for change.

Highlights of the exhibition include River, 2023, a breathtaking 12-metre-long paper sculpture from Naarm/Melbourne-based artist Dr. Bridget Hillebrand that will unfurl from the ceiling of the gallery like a living entity, with layers of delicate Japanese washi paper flowing and folding to mimic the natural flow of water; The Bird Agents, 2007-2008, a large-scale work on paper from artist Locust Jones that will make its debut at SAM since entering the SAM Collection in 2014; and Silent Landscape, German artist Anne Wenzel’s winning entry to the international category of the 2010 Sidney Myer Fund Australian Ceramic Award.

Bridget Hillebrand, River, 2023, © the artist

Danny Lacy, SAM Artistic Director, says of the exhibition:

“Our community is no stranger to natural disasters; every one of us has experienced the effects of our changing climate, whether it be fire, flood, or drought. Art is a powerful means of presenting new and diverse perspectives on society’s largest issues, and the artworks featured in The Shape of Things to Come prompt a timely conversation on our collective future. The reality is confronting, but it’s important to temper the dark with the light; while works from Locust Jones and Anne Wenzel examine environmental and social disasters, the cautious optimism and fragile beauty of works by Annika Romeyn and Bridget Hillebrand give us hope that we can shape the future for the better.

The works in this exhibition truly transform the gallery, with their scale creating immersive moments that will inspire awe and reflection. We’re excited to welcome visitors into this space and engage in the many dialogues we’re sure will flow from it.”

The Shape of Things to Come will be on display in SAM’s Lin Onus Gallery from Saturday 22 February, with free entry.

Top image: Anne Wenzel, Silent Landscape (detail), 2006-2010, Shepparton Art Museum Collection, 2010 Sidney Myer Fund Australian Ceramic Award - International Artist Category, 2011 © the artist