Tammy Kanat: Circle of Her – Solo Exhibition Exploring Memory & Female Archetypes

Celebrated Melbourne-based fibre artist Tammy Kanat will debut Circle of Her, her most ambitious body of work to date, at the Jewish Museum of Australia from 18 September 2025 to 22 March 2026. Presented as the latest Eva and Marc Besen Contemporary Artist Commission, the exhibition marks a bold new direction in Kanat’s practice, unveiling immersive sculptural forms shaped by intuition, ancestral memory and female archetypes.

Renowned for her vibrant woven wall pieces and contemporary reimagining of textile traditions, Kanat here transforms her distinctive visual language into a multidimensional experience of presence, creativity and transformation.

“As I began working, I found myself listening differently, not to the materials, but to something internal, and somehow older than me,” reflects Kanat. “These pieces are vessels for presence, intuition and transformation.”

Presented in the intimate surrounds of the Jewish Museum of Australia: Gandel Centre of Judaica, Circle of Her invites audiences into a richly layered meditation on feminine renewal, cultural belonging and the power of material storytelling. The exhibition draws on archetypal feminine figures — matriarchs, muses, ancestral spirits — and honours their influence through seven bold sculptural forms that speak to memory, imagination and intergenerational connection.

Alongside archetypes, the sculptures also pay tribute to the women in Kanat’s own life — her mother, daughters, sister, friends, colleagues and artistic inspirations — all part of a circle that holds, nurtures and connects. At its heart, Circle of Her is about honouring the threads that shape us: the women we come from, those beside us, and the ones we carry within.

Curated by Esther Gyorki, the exhibition is accompanied by a significant new publication authored by Dr Paola Di Trocchio with contributions from Jo Horgan, Sally Dan-Cuthbert, Rachelle Unreich, Professor Natalie King and Gyorki. The book situates Kanat’s work within contemporary Australian and global design contexts, underscoring her place as a key figure in today’s material culture.

“Tammy’s new work is materially rich, spiritually resonant and deeply personal,” says curator Esther Gyorki. “It honours the threads we inherit and those we pass on, evoking the spiral as a symbol of continuity, introspection and transformation.”

Kanat’s profile has grown significantly in recent years, with high-profile collaborations including the inaugural MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission 2019 and a nationwide MECCA holiday campaign. Circle of Her promises to extend that influence further, offering a moving experience that invites audiences to connect with their own inner voices and shared cultural lineages.

The exhibition will also feature a new soundscape composed by Kanat’s brother Grant Blashki in collaboration with Gidi Ifergan, and a dynamic public program of artist talks, guided meditation, school holiday weaving and music up late.

Details

EXHIBITION: Tammy Kanat: Circle of Her

• When: 18 September 2025 to 22 March 2026
• Where: Jewish Museum of Australia, 26 Alma Rd, St Kilda VIC 3182
• Tickets: Free with museum entry or membership
• More information: jewishmuseum.com.au/exhibitions/circle-of-her

EVENT: In Conversation

Join Tammy Kanat and Esther Gyorki as they welcome you into the Circle of Her. Exploring our latest major exhibition’s context and themes, artist and curator will wind you down their creative path – how Circle of Her came to be and the discoveries made along the way.

• When: 21 September 2025, Sun 3–4pm (Arrive early to immerse yourself in the exhibition before the event)
• Where: Jewish Museum of Australia
• Cost: Free for members ($18 for non-members)
• More information: jewishmuseum.com.au/events/circle-of-her-tammy-kanat-esther-gyorki-in-conversation