Release the Birds

SAM Ceramics Showcase curated by Penny Byrne From 21 September 2026 Artist Penny Byrne has amassed an intimate knowledge of the SAM Collection through her ongoing work as a conservator, acquainting herself with the Collection's hundreds of ceramic objects. Release the Birds emerges from this deep connection, featuring a colourful grouping of avian-themed artworks selected by Byrne during a recent visit. ''I have always loved birds. My grandfather in Mildura was an amateur ornithologist, and some of his taxidermied birds are now in the Melbourne Museum collection. I'm pretty sure my love of our feathered friends began with him. One of the things I really enjoy about visiting Shepparton is walking around the lake and seeing its incredible variety of birdlife. Having had a connection with SAM and its collection for over twenty years, both as an artist and a conservator, it was a real pleasure to delve into the collection and discover its ceramic birdlife, too. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to release the birds! I've brought together a flock of bird-themed ceramics from the collection, each with its own character and personality. Sadly, Release the Birds also comes at a worrying time. H5N1 bird flu is spreading through Australia and poses a serious threat to our wild birds. I hope this exhibition is a small celebration of the birds that bring so much life, colour, noise, and joy to the world around us."

About the artist: Penny Byrne (b. 1965 Mildura, VIC) is a Naarm/Melbourne-based artist and conservator whose work engages with the contemporary social affairs and political tensions of our time. Byrne's artworks can be found in public and private collections across Australia and internationally.