News... 2025/2026 Highlights
Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM. Photographer: Connor Patterson
ICON TJUNKAYA TAPAYA OAM
EN COELHOJamFactory’s annual ICON exhibition series celebrates the achievements of South Australia’s most influential visual artists working in craft-based media. Senior Anangu Elder, Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM, has been selected as the JamFactory 2026 ICON. A highly respected ceramicist, painter and weaver, Tapaya is recognised as one of the most highly regarded female artists working on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. The exhibition will be curated by fellow Pitjantjatjara artist, and current Chair of the Ernabella Arts Board, Anne Thompson, who will be assisted by staff at JamFactory and Ernabella Arts. The exhibition will tour nationally and is accompanied by a monograph that explores the life story, practice and work of Tapaya.
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Kathryn Starrs at Pilchuck Glass School. Photo: Courtesy of the artist.
SEEING STARRS
Second-year Glass Studio Associate Kathryn Starrs was given the opportunity to attend the Pilchuck Glass School to undertake a residency with world- renowned glass artists. Pilchuck Glass School has become the most comprehensive educational centre in the world for glass, providing the opportunity for experimentation while fostering teamwork, individual initiative and expression. Describing her experience as an opportunity to be “introduced to new techniques and reconnect with some I had long forgotten”, Kathryn is grateful for the new perspectives, skills and relationships she has formed through the scholarship, made possible by the support of the Medici Collective.
Rare Earth Retreats. Photographer: Connor Patterson.
A RARE TREAT
A creative partnership between Rare Earth Retreats and JamFactory’s studios resulted in a distinctive collection of custom-designed and made furniture, lighting, joinery and accessories. Each piece was thoughtfully designed to complement the calm, immersive environment of the retreats. The unique spaces celebrate a deep connection to place, people and materiality expressed through considered details, textures and refined finishes.
The Murcutt Pin. Photographer: Connor Patterson.
PINNING THE PRIZE
JamFactory’s Jewellery & Metal Studio was approached by internationally acclaimed Australian architect Glenn Murcutt AO to manufacture a unique metal pin. Designed by Murcutt and handcrafted by JamFactory’s Jewellery & Metal Studio Manager, Danielle Barrie, the Murcutt Pin represents a new international award for architecture. Crafted in Rhodium Plated 9ct White Gold, the pin pays homage to Murcutt’s father, who spent years gold prospecting in Papua New Guinea. The collaboration reflects Murcutt’s long-standing practice of working closely with skilled creatives - an ethos shared by JamFactory and central to the creation of this award.
Furniture Studio. Photographer: Connor Patterson
SYMBIOTIC SYMPOSIUM
Held from 7-8 November 2025, the Studio Woodworkers Australian Symposium: Symbiosis offers a unique opportunity to explore the world of studio woodworking. A celebration of the intricate relationships that define the craft of woodworking – Symbiosis provides an opportunity for shared learning through tours, workshops and thought-provoking discussions. Open to experienced practitioners, beginners and woodworking admirers, the Studio Woodworkers Australian Symposium invites participants to reflect on how collaboration and connection continue to share and sustain the world of studio woodworking.
Calum Hurley. Photo: courtesy of the artist
FRENCH CONNECTION
The support of JamFactory’s Medici Collective and valued residency partners enabled JamFactory Alumnus Calum Hurley to undertake a residency at the renowned Domaine de Boisbuchet in France. Founded in 1986, Domaine de Boisbuchet has earned a global reputation as Europe’s leading destination for experimental, hands- on workshops in architecture, design and art. For emerging practitioners like Hurley, residencies such as this offer invaluable professional development, providing a space for the mentorship and international perspective needed to refine a creative practice and build lasting connections within the global design community