CONTEMPORARY ART STOCKROOM Donal MolloyDrum

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Influenced by the vast empty plains of the Wimmera landscape he calls home, Dónal Molloy-Drum's sculptural practice looks at the relationships between volume and space, and is inspired by both the micro and macro. Without mimicking any specific specimen found within the Australian landscape, the organic, biomorphic shapes in his sculptures appear connected to the natural world. Favouring utilitarian materials such as wood, plaster, concrete, stainless steel, and more recently the inclusion of blown glass, Molloy-Drum intentionally pushes the limits of his materials to construct his polished, abstract, lively forms.

'The temporal nature of life is reiterated through the balancing act of one shape encountering another. Whether supported or supporting, these forms evolve as enduring structures, often defying gravity, showing both strength and vulnerability. While highly polished, subtle, often faint, markings on the surfaces reference the passing of time, scars, stories and events connecting nature with humanity. The making process for me is about turning hard materials into soft malleable and tactile abstract forms with an organic presence, inviting the viewer to contemplate the empty spaces highlighting the curves, shadows and precarious balance of forms.’
Artist Statement

'Each sculpture possesses a joyful quirk of individuality, appearing enlivened, discursive and in a state of activity. Full of generative visual possibilities, the individual units that the artist coaxes into existence appear to squirm, squeeze and tumble their way into their final collective configurations. Irregular spheres nestle within polished angular crevices. Unruly branches protrude from the tranquil arch of a protective hollow. The contrast between these forms, of textures and opacity, the enduring quality of steel beside the mutable nature of glass and wood, sets up scenarios full of poetic ebullience.'
Excerpt from catalogue essay by Phe Luxford, 2022

'Resting Light' a major commission for the CIty of Whitehorse 2022

Installation view of 'Decades' at Horsham Regional Art Gallery 2019

Installation of ‘Still’,
Winner of the Yering Station Sculpture Prize People’s Choice Award 2014

ARTIST PROFILE:
Dónal Molloy-Drum was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. After migrating to Australia in 1997, he now lives and works in the Wimmera region of Western Victoria. He studied Fine Art at the Crawford College of Art and Design in Cork in the late 1980s, majoring in sculpture. Molloy-Drum is a regular exhibitor, with work in public and private collections worldwide, including Microsoft Dublin, South Dublin County Council, the Australian Air Force, Canberra and Horsham Rural City Council. He has been a finalist in various prizes, including the Deakin Small Sculpture Prize (2023, 2021), the Swan Hill Regional Gallery Drawing and Print Prize (2020), the Yering Station Sculpture Prize (2019, 2018, 2015, 2014) the Tesselaar Sculpture Prize (2018) and was twice winner of the Yering Station Sculpture Prize People's Choice Award (2018, 2014). He has received travel grants from Creative Victoria (2022, 2020) and Regional Arts Victoria (2016, 2010) and has undertaken commissions for the City of Whitehorse, Horsham City Council and Horsham Regional Art Gallery.

MOLLOY-DRUM'S PUBLIC ART PROJECTS

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At Oysterhaven 2025
stainless steel, marine plywood
36cm x 50cm x 16cm
$6,000 AUD

Saol Fós 2026
stainless steel and wood
40cm x 68cm x 34cm
$6,000 AUD

Swim on Air 2026
stainless steel, yellowbox wood, marine plywood, copper, brass
73cm x 68cm x 34cm
$7,000 AUD

Le Cheile 2026
Stainless steel and wood
57cm x 40cm x 14cm
$5,500 AUD

Linger 2023
stainless steel, plaster, marine plywood veneer
36cm x 38cm x 12cm
$5,000 AUD

Cloudburst 2023
stainless steel, brass, marine plywood veneer
51cm x 32cm x 20cm
$6,000 AUD

Arc and Flow 2022
stainless steel, blown glass, marine plywood veneer
74cm x 32cm x 32cm
$7,000 AUD

Tidal Song 2023
stainless steel, wood
35cm x 28cm x 24cm
$5,500 AUD

Halcyon 2023
stainless steel, brass, marine plywood veneer, blown glass
38cm x 39cm x 15cm
$5,500 AUD

Wimmera 2018
stainless steel, copper, brass, plywood veneer, found wood, concrete
cm x cm dimensions variable
$15,000 AUD