Francis Upritchard Casts in Bronze for Huge Commission

New Zealand-born London-based Francis Upritchard, and Aucklander Lisa Reihana, are two of nine artists commissioned by the Art Gallery of NSW to create works that will go on display inside and outside Sydney Modern and the existing Walter Vernon-designed building from December.

The multimillion-dollar commission of artworks is the largest in the Gallery’s 150-year history including bronze-cast super-sized creatures that will greet visitors on arrival at its new contemporary art galleries.

The largest of these will be a family of bronze-cast mythical creatures to be installed in the new Welcome Plaza.

Inspired by the gnarled forms of the Moreton Bay figs of Sydney Harbour, Upritchard, 46, has been bringing them to life in her Italian studio. It’s believed to be her largest commission to date.

“As you approach them, my long and improbable mystical creatures invite intrigue and wonder: who are they, what are they doing and how do I respond to them?” she said.

Upritchard has been the recipient of the Walters Prize and in 2009 represented New Zealand at the Venice Biennale.

Original article by Linda Morris, The Sydney Morning Herald, March 24, 2022.

Photo by David Mazza.