Lucy Culliton, Bibbenluke Guinea Fowl 2025, oil on canvas, 140 x 140cm. Image courtesy Michael Bradfield.
An upcoming group exhibition titled A Nest in the Hills: The Symbiosis of Women and Birds in Art will include a selection of paintings by Lucy CULLITON. The exhibition will be on display at the Mudgee Arts Precinct from December 12 until March 15, 2026.
A Nest in the Hills: The Symbiosis of Women and Birds in Contemporary Art is an exhibition that delves into the complex and multifaceted relationship between women and birds. This exhibition brings together contemporary artists whose works explore themes of freedom, transformation, identity and the natural world through the motif of birds.
Birds have long been symbolic in art and literature, often representing freedom, transformation and the ethereal. In contemporary art, the depiction of women and birds can evoke powerful narratives about identity, liberation, ecofeminism and the human connection to nature. This exhibition aims to explore these themes by showcasing works that highlight the symbiotic relationship between women and birds, whilst emphasising how this connection can reflect deeper societal and personal issues. Most of the participating artists have stories of their own relationships to birds – whether as representations of another world, or as symbols of their own personal struggles or triumphs.
It will primarily include works by established female artists from across Australia, including First Nations artists and artists from the Mid-Western Region. Exhibiting artists include: Petrina Hicks, Anna-Wili Highfield, Deborah Kelly, Lucy Culliton, Lorraine Connelly-Northey, Michelle Cawthorne, Diane Fogwell, Kim Goldsmith, Denise Faulkner, Fleur McDonald, Aleshia Lonsdale, Kim Harding, Michelle Steven and Pamela Welsh.
Exhibition Dates: 12 December 2025 – 15 March, 2026
Mudgee Arts Precinct: 90 Market St, Mudgee NSW 2850