Barrett House Studios May Opening

Join us as we celebrate and share the work of our current Barrett House Studios artists – Amanda Torrisi, Merran Hughes, and Anna Voytsekhovich.

Please note that Frenchman's Road will be a towaway zone from 6pm. If you plan to drive, we encourage you to park in surrounding streets including Gilderthorpe Avenue, Park Avenue, and Hooper Street.

Junk in the Chunk: Reclaiming Beauty
Amanda Torrisi 

Inspired by sustainability, storytelling, and intersectional heritage, Amanda’s work explores the life cycle of resources, transforming discarded materials into art. Her pieces highlight themes of visibility, counterculture, and how objects carry history and identity — reconnecting with a past discarded by assimilation.

Into the Blue
Merran Hughes

An exhibition of small sculpture, created largely using bronze processes, and research developed during the residency. Merran’s work focuses on the coast and ocean, the Gadigal and Bidjigal lands and sea-country, where she lives and swims. Her artwork celebrates the species of the temperate marine habitats, and our coastal culture.

Connections: Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub
Anna Voytsekhovich 

A perceptive reflection of the Critically Endangered plant community Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub that occurs in Sydney's eastern and south-eastern suburbs. On display are Anna’s highly-detailed watercolour and scratchboard artworks representing tight ecological connections and co-evolution between our unique flora, fauna and fungi.

Barrett House Studios facilitates fully subsidised three-month residencies for multidisciplinary artists. Our May opening provides the first glimpse at works created before studios open to the public.

Three artists will share the fruits of their labour over the last four months. Immerse yourself in their three studio spaces converted to galleries.

Refreshments will be served.

Amanda Torrisi My practice explores the concept of community. I work in a variety of mediums, using recycled materials. this sustainable practice enables me to express my creativity while addressing the growing concerns of waste. I strive to share stories that reflect the diversity of the world around us.

Merran Hughes Merran Hughes is a multidisciplinary artist and swimmer with a deep interest in marine conservation. She wishes to build connection and support for our local coastal environment using creativity. Merran is currently experimenting with sculpture practices. Many of her pieces are carved and cast in bronze using the lost-wax method

Anna Voytsekhovich Anna is a professional scientist, scientific illustrator, botanical artist and wildlife illustrator. In her art she is trying to show usually overlooked interactions between different species. She finds her inspiration in Nature, but most of all she is interested in symbiosis between all living organisms and their connections.

Access
Barrett House is a single-story home located at 6 Barrett Place, Randwick.

Entrance to the property is via a single garden gate, followed by a short garden path. There is a small lip at the double sliding door to the house. There is one non-gendered bathroom inside the property which is not wheelchair accessible. The garage space is accessible via the street level and is wheelchair accessible.

There is on-street parking located around the property. Limited seating is available, if you require a seat on the night please speak with Council staff.

If you would like to discuss your access requirements please contact the Arts & Culture team via arts@randwick.nsw.gov.au

Barrett House is on the land of the Bidjigal and Gadigal people.
Randwick City Council pays respect to the resilience and strength of Elders past and present.

Image: Merran Hughes, Amanda Torrisi and Anna Voytsekhovich, Barrett House Studios, 2025. Photograph by Mark Bond.