The University of Melbourne's Buxton Contemporary has unveiled Hany Armanious: Stone Soup, a major solo exhibition presented in partnership with the Henry Moore Institute in the United Kingdom.
Hany Armanious is one of Australia's most acclaimed artists, known for his exploration of the casting process and its ability to reveal unexpected qualities in ordinary objects. Through his playful and innovative use of resin casting, Armanious transforms everyday objects such as crackers, candles, and coat hangers into extraordinary sculptural forms that invite audiences to see the familiar in a new light.
Stone Soup celebrates 15 years of Armanious's practice and features more than 80 works, many on display in Australia for the first time. The exhibition includes a new commission produced with an industrial inkjet printer, typically used for large-scale commercial signage. This innovative work, printed directly onto the gallery wall, captures the textures, marks, and traces left behind in the artist's studio, elevating the often-overlooked remnants of artmaking and bringing the creative process into focus.
The exhibition builds on a recent presentation at the Henry Moore Institute in the United Kingdom, one of Europe's most significant sculpture galleries, recognised internationally for its research, exhibitions, and collections dedicated to the study and appreciation of sculpture.
The Melbourne exhibition is guest-curated by Laurence Sillars, Head of the Henry Moore Institute, with Samantha Comte, Head Curator, Art Museums, and Charlotte Day, Director of Art Museums, at the University of Melbourne.
"We're delighted to present Hany Armanious: Stone Soup at Buxton Contemporary," Samantha Comte said.
"This exhibition captures the breadth of Hany's practice. It questions how we use objects to anchor ourselves in the world, and whether those meanings are ever fixed. It's an artistic enquiry that feels particularly important today."
Charlotte Day said the exhibition highlights the University's role in connecting Australian art practice with international dialogues.
"This major exhibition reflects the strength of our partnership with the Henry Moore Institute, one of Europe's leading sculpture galleries," Day said.
"We're thrilled to bring this collaboration to Melbourne and to present our audiences with new perspectives on Hany Armanious' work."
Professor Michael Wesley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement) at the University of Melbourne, noted that the University was pleased to play a part in Melbourne's vibrant cultural life.
"We are proud to support exhibitions like Stone Soup, which bring together artists and institutions from across the globe and contribute to Melbourne's creative offering," Professor Wesley said.
"We hope that through open and free access to remarkable exhibitions such as this, we provide our students, staff and the wider community with meaningful opportunities to experience and reflect on the ideas shaping contemporary art today."
Buxton Contemporary is a public art gallery located at the University's Southbank campus, in the heart of the Melbourne Arts Precinct. It's exhibitions and programs reaffirm the University's commitment to broadening access to arts and culture and supporting Melbourne as an internationally recognised cultural capital.
Stone Soup runs from the from the 21 November 2025 to 11 April 2026. It is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am–5pm. Read more and organise your visit.
Audiences to the exhibition are invited to view the 2025 VCA Art Grad Show also located at the Southbank campus.
