past exhibitions

solo shows:

beached in the whale belly

Red Gallery (Gallery 4), Fitzroy North, Naarm

2 – 13 September, 2026

www.redgallery.com

“[…] the sea dashes even the mightiest whales against the rocks, and leaves them there side by side with the split wrecks of ships.” (Moby Dick, pg. 240-1)

The idea behind this new collection of diagram-paintings by olive bly arrived when, at the beginning of this year, a small shipwreck washed up on the beach by her family home in the north of Aotearoa. Drawing upon a surprising array of reference points, the paintings splice together real and emerging crises in order to emphasise the vitality of the ocean. bly pictures a reality in which human civilisation is beached in the belly of a beached whale, and asks what a painting’s proper meaning is under these conditions.

Image Credit: Red Gallery
Image Credit: Red Gallery
Image Credit: Red Gallery
credit: Red Gallery

many wiggly homunculi

Uindō95 (Te Whanganui a Tara, Aotearoa)

August 1-14, 2025

‘([d]arwinian) talk’
‘consumption medley’
‘in(divi)dual (mutuality)’
‘it’s a circle’
‘let’s face the music & dance’
‘log hugger’
‘many wiggly homunculi’
‘messy medley’
‘minding (own) business’
‘myth’
‘once too often’
‘queue’
‘rods & cones’
‘rotation’
‘solipsistic eclipse’
‘they love’
‘three pairs’
‘to obtain the (im)possible’

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMbV-X8T5R1/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOZ2dVYjzNA/?img_index=1

eighteen A2 ink & charcoal drawings

an excerpt from the accompanying poem:

abstract(ing), diagrammatic figures on the page:
in relationship with one another
(through erotic modes (& subsequent community(ies)))

the homunculi:
many manifold projectors
(simultaneous sites (of in- & out-put))

the inscription medium:
that wild circle called language
(called language (called language et cetera))

the persistent legend of connexion:
demands a witness to the claims it promulgates
(& finds it{self} dependent on ink (& paper & skin)

don’t be afraid, the clown’s afraid too

MEANWHILE Gallery (Te Whanganui a Tara, Aotearoa)

March 21-30, 2025

‘100 Willis St’ | Image credit: Blake Spurdle
‘an active, unalievated, intentional action’ | Image credit: Blake Spurdle
‘chrysalis (dis)section’ | Image credit: Blake Spurdle
‘if [i] could eat[…]’ | Image credit: Blake Spurdle
‘ode to Dr. Shane Reti’ | Image credit: Blake Spurdle
‘recicrossity’ | Image credit: Blake Spurdle
‘sissy-fuss’ | Image credit: Blake Spurdle
‘where does the clown get (its) nose from(?)’ | Image credit: Blake Spurdle
‘where the sun shines’ | Image credit: Blake Spurdle

https://www.meanwhilegallery.com/#/archive/dont-be-afraid-the-clowns-afraid-too

Where does the clown get its nose from? This collection of paintings by outer-disciplinary artist(ing) o(l[i]ve) (bly(th)) bends the body over itself. Gestures of extension, penetration, curiosity, and gazing encourage a sense of serious-silliness. Block colours, round shapes, and wiggly lines combine with textural experiments of layered acrylic paint, charcoal, and newsprint on canvas.

The gallery space becomes a chrysalis-womb, where interpolation is the medium. Supporting text(s) scatter the space, while live poetry readings and music performances throughout the week emphasise the outer-connected activities which drive creation.

Immersed in absurdity, transsexuality, experimentation, and improvisation, ‘don’t be afraid’ is a hive of play, to be experienced in person.

group shows, competitions, & open calls:

fortyfivedownstairs Emerging Artist Award 2026

Finalist

‘pucker(ing) map((p)ing)’

secondhand thread on secondhand cloth, framed in secondhand stretcher bars

fortyfivedownstairs (45 Flinders Lane, Naarm, so-called “Australia”)

July 14-24

Emerging Artist Award 2026

Fifty Squared Art Prize

Brunswick Street Gallery (Fitzroy, Naarm, so-called “Australia”)

June 20 – July 3

‘diagram of a person lying down’
Image credit: Brunswick Street Gallery
‘surprise diagram (drone/down)’
Image credit: Brunswick Street Gallery
‘”The entity of those that are not yet.”‘ after ‘Answer for Hope’ by Robert Crashaw
Image credit: Brunswick Street Gallery

https://brunswickstreetgallery.com.au/pages/fifty-squared-art-prize-2026

Queer Heirlooms

Unassigned Gallery x Queer Love Collective (Brunswick, Naarm, so-called “Australia”)

June 6-28

‘catching pigeons at the park so we can help them’
Image credit: @snapsbysimz (Instagram)

https://www.unassignedgallery.com.au

Small Mid-Year Group Exhibition

Red Gallery (Fitzroy North, Naarm, so-called “Australia”)

June 4-13

‘diagram of a fish, a hook, a line, a sinker, & the surprise’
secondhand textiles, used tooth floss, human hair, found fishing line, recycled wood w/ metal bracket