First Steppers

A first showing of two textured works

Earlier this year, I exhibited two of my artworks, Tessera and Pieces, in a group show for emerging artists called First Steppers. It was my first time showing work in a local gallery, and it was a good chance to share what I do and to see my pieces in a new context. I was curious how two works created at different times might speak to each other when they sat side by side. Neither piece was made with an exhibition in mind, but each happened to be finished just in time for the show. Placing them together revealed an unexpected conversation between the two: a subtle dialogue in texture and meaning.

Tessera is composed of a grid of textured squares. Up close, each square is different, but together they form a cohesive whole. I see it as a reflection of how every experience, whether positive, difficult, or uncertain, shapes who we are. This piece speaks to how individual parts can coexist and add up to something larger without all being the same.

Pieces took a different direction after the plaster cracked near the end of the process. It was meant to be one thing but turned into something else. Rather than discard it, I reworked what remained, and I’m glad I did. The result reminds me that when something breaks, it doesn’t always need to be thrown away. It can be reshaped and reinterpreted. That shift in approach stayed with me. Both of these works are made of plaster, and neither is about polish or certainty. They’re about what builds up over time, some of it intentional and some of it accidental.

Being part of First Steppers was a rewarding step toward sharing my work more publicly. It felt different to see my art on a gallery wall with others looking on. Some people lingered in front of the pieces and shared thoughts that revealed dimensions I hadn’t considered. I realised the show didn’t have to be a major milestone. It could simply be a chance to observe what my work carried into a new space and how it held its own there. I’m open to doing more shows in the future. This experience came at the right pace for me, and having my work outside my home studio for a while helped me see it in a new light.

--AM