
MELISAH MAY / SOLO EXHIBITION
10 October - 25 October, 2025
Melisha May’s practice explores domesticity, maternal experience, and the quiet chaos embedded in everyday household life. Using familiar domestic tools—brushing, scrubbing, rubbing, washing, dripping, and polishing—she transforms acts of care into physical mark-making, reflecting the repetitive, cyclical rhythms of maintaining a home and raising a child.
Her choice of polyester canvas, reminiscent of household relics, becomes a surface she erases and rebuilds, creating layered depths that speak to lived experience. Autobiographical content runs throughout her work, capturing memory and inherited maternal trauma. Gesture and colour are applied instinctively—particularly pink, which she embraces as a symbol of strength—to convey emotional and physical narratives tied to motherhood and identity.
Influenced by the female Abstract Expressionists of 1950s New York, May works with spontaneity and emotion, allowing the canvas to become a site of exploration. In this process, she gives visibility to the unseen aspects of domestic life, transforming the mundane into a powerful visual language. Her work invites connection through shared experiences of care, family history, and the resilience found in the everyday.
Opening reception: 10 October, 2025 6pm - 8pm
On view: 10 - 25 October, 2025
Location: Wester Gallery 39 Bolton St, Newcastle
Supported by: Sea Salt & Sage Catering, Young Henrys, Symphonia Wines, Heaps Normal, NON
Free Entry
EXHIBITIONS
UPCOMING
Melisah May / It's All Just A Season
10 -25 October, 2025
Opening reception - Friday 10 Oct.
6 - 8pmUPCOMING
Hannah Goggs (AKA Moody Rabbit) / Gone Fishin''
31 October - 15 November, 2025
CONTACT US
39 Bolton Street Newcastle, NSW 2300
OPENING HOURS
Wednesday - Friday, 9.30am - 2.30pm
Saturday, 9am - 1pm
Sunday, closed
or by appointment info@wester.galleryTo get in touch with the gallery, call +61 422 634 471 or you can reach out to us via info@wester.gallery
For all press inquiries please reach out here info@wester.gallery
To enquire about hiring the gallery for events or photoshoots please reach out here events@wester.gallery
EXHIBIT WITH US IN 2026
Now taking expressions of interest for our 2026 program. Applications for 2026 at Wester Gallery are now open.
Whether you're emerging or established, now's the time to apply and be part of something exciting in 2026.-At Wester Gallery, we champion creative practices grounded in skill, craft, and authentic expression.
Rooted in the heart of Newcastle’s art community, Wester is a space where emerging and established artists alike are encouraged to exhibit, experiment, and connect.We’re currently inviting applications from artists, collectives, and curators working across all mediums. Whether you're planning a solo show or a group exhibition, Wester offers a range of unique gallery spaces to bring your vision to life.
Now accepting proposals for 2026.
Please send proposals to exhibit@wester.galleryFor more information explore here