A major public artwork by senior weaver Aunty Marilyne Nicholls will become part of the very fabric of Bendigo Art Gallery’s future, weaving First Nations knowledge, Country and culture into one of regional Australia’s most significant cultural redevelopment projects.
Embedded within the façade of the Gallery’s new View Street building, this work brings together ancestral knowledge, traditional weaving practice and contemporary architectural innovation at an unprecedented scale.
In this monumental work, Aunty Marilyne’s expert coil weaving is transformed in scale and medium. Using cutting-edge technology, the delicate weave will be recreated at its original size through a scanning and moulding process.
Aunty Marilyne’s weaving reflects on cycles and connections: between people and generations, Country, plants, and waterways, and between the past and future. The project represents a defining moment in the redevelopment of Bendigo Art Gallery and a powerful expression of the enduring strength and continuity of First Nations cultural knowledge.
Grounded in Country
For Aunty Marilyne, weaving is more than an artistic practice. It is a living cultural tradition passed through generations of family and community.
A multi-clan woman with connections to freshwater and saltwater Country and to Dja Dja Wurrung Country through her apical ancestors, Aunty Marilyne’s work is deeply informed by kinship, cultural knowledge and connection to the natural environment.
Gathering natural fibres from waterways and landscapes is an integral part of her practice. Through Woven , these relationships become visible at a civic scale, inviting visitors to reflect on Country, biodiversity, traditional knowledge and the continuing strength of First Nations cultural practice.
The commission honours women’s cultural knowledge and creates a lasting connection between past, present and future generations.
A landmark artwork for Bendigo
When Bendigo Art Gallery reopens in 2028, visitors will encounter a building shaped by artistic and cultural expression from the outside in.
Woven introduces an organic and human element to the architecture of the new View Street building. Drawing inspiration from the rhythms and textures of hand weaving, the artwork creates a visual dialogue between architecture, landscape and culture.
As a permanent public artwork, it will become a landmark for Bendigo and a visible celebration of the region’s First Nations heritage and contemporary cultural life.
The commission sits alongside other important redevelopment initiatives, including the creation of a dedicated Traditional Owner Place of Keeping for Dja Dja Wurrung cultural materials, ensuring First Nations stories, knowledge and cultural belongings remain central to the Gallery’s future.
About the Artist
Aunty Marilyne Nicholls is a senior weaver, cultural knowledge holder and artist.
Having learned weaving from her mother and grandmother, she has dedicated her career to preserving and sharing traditional knowledge through workshops, mentoring and community cultural programs.
Her work is held in the Bendigo Art Gallery Collection and has been featured in major exhibitions, including the landmark exhibition 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art at the Potter Museum of Art.
Bendigo Art Gallery Redevelopment
The Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment is a transformational investment in the future of arts and culture in regional Australia.
The project will deliver:
- Expanded exhibition galleries
- A new learning and engagement centre
- A dedicated children’s gallery
- Enhanced visitor facilities
- A Traditional Owner Place of Keeping for Dja Dja Wurrung cultural materials
- New opportunities for artists, audiences and community participation
Woven is the first major artistic commissions to emerge from this vision, demonstrating how the new Gallery will connect art, architecture, culture and community in meaningful and enduring ways.
Construction commenced in early 2026, with Bendigo Art Gallery expected to reopen in early 2028.