Gordon Ramsay, CEO of the Cultural Facilities Corporation and Dr Anna Wong, Director, Galleries Museums and Heritage invite you to attend the launch of Hiroe and Cornel Swen: Making a Creative Life in the gallery 31 October | Thursday 4.30pm | Entry to the opening is free | Bookings Essential

This exhibition celebrates two of Canberra's most influential ceramic and textiles artists, Hiroe Swen and the late Cornell Swen who, together, led a uniquely creative life in this region. Significant ceramics by Hiroe are shown alongside Cornel's batik textiles to celebrate their extraordinary creative partnership. 

Hiroe’s and other local ceramic artist’s Ikebana vessels will be on sale  at CMAG from 1 -17 November. 

Cornel Swen emigrated from Europe in 1951 and worked in Sydney and Singapore as a freelance artist and graphic designer. While in Japan he met Hiroe, who was working in a restaurant and making ceramics for a show in Australia. The couple married in 1966 and moved to Canberra, purchasing a sheep farm and establishing the Pastoral Gallery in 1973. They continued to work in parallel on their own work as well as coming together to collaborate on joint exhibitions, sharing their unique design language with the community. Hiroe went on to become one of Australia's most respected ceramic artists and influenced generations of practitioners through her teaching at the Australian National University.

Opening hours | Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm | Saturday and Sunday 12pm – 4pm | Closed some public holidays 

Entry to this exhibition is free | No bookings required 

Image Credit: Hiroe Swen | Canberra Route, 1988 | Photograph by Brenton McGeachie