Shellharbour City Council is delighted to announce that educator and artist Tammie Castles will open a new solo exhibition at The Imaginarium, following her residency earlier this year through Council's Incubator Artist program.
Based in Oak Flats, Tammie studied drawing and sculpture at National Art School. During her residency earlier this year, she expanded her practice into ceramics, combining her drawing skills with functional forms such as hand-painted plates and tiles. Her work reflects on the ideas of home, place, memory, and shared spaces.
Caption: Tammie Castles is returning to The Imaginarium, this time in a new solo exhibition. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council
Throughout her time at The Imaginarium, Tammie developed a unique installation inspired by Shellharbour Village. She also invited community engagement by creating a collaborative artwork that encouraged visitors to reflect on their own connection to home.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said the exhibition highlights the value of supporting local artists through initiatives like the Incubator program.
"This upcoming exhibition brings together the work created during her residency, offering the public a chance to experience the development and culmination of her project for the first time," Mayor Homer said.
"Programs like this give artists the space to experiment, develop new work and connect with the local community. Tammie's exhibition captures the stories and spirit of Shellharbour Village in a way that feels warm and personal. We're proud to see her residency come full circle."
Tammie said the residency gave her time to slow down, observe, and respond to the village environment.
"My work often circles back to the idea of home, and Shellharbour Village offered so many moments that fed into that," she said.
"I loved watching people move through the space, hearing their memories and seeing how they connected with the community artwork. This exhibition brings all of those conversations and observations together."
The exhibition opens at The Imaginarium on Wednesday, 10 December 2025 from 4:30-6:30pm, and will run until Monday, 15 December. Entry is free and everyone is welcome.
Tammie is also running two public exhibition workshops where participants can paint their own ceramic ornaments:
For more on Tammie's work, visit tammiecastles.com or follow @tammiecastlesart.
KEY MESSAGES:
• Tammie Castles is returning to The Imaginarium with a new exhibition showcasing the work she created during her Incubator Artist residency.
• Her pieces explore ideas of home, place and memory, combining drawing and ceramics inspired by her time in Shellharbour Village.
• The exhibition opens at The Imaginarium on Wednesday, 10 December, with free entry for the community.
