Deb McKay: my mother's house by the beach | New Exhibition at Art Images Gallery

Art Images Gallery is delighted to present my mother's house by the beach, a new solo exhibition by acclaimed Adelaide ceramic artist Deb McKay, on display from 26 June to 26 July 2026.

Known for her exquisitely crafted porcelain sculptures inspired by the natural world, Deb McKay has established herself as one of Australia's most exciting contemporary ceramic artists. Her latest exhibition explores themes of home, memory, family, and the enduring rhythms of nature through a collection of deeply personal new works.

Exploring Memory Through Clay

My Mother's House by the Beach reflects on the places that shape us and the memories that remain long after we leave them.

For many years, McKay returned to her mother's coastal home after living interstate. The familiar sounds of the ocean, daily walks along the beach, the surrounding garden, and the rock pools became markers of passing time and shared family experience. Today, as her own children return home in much the same way, these memories have come full circle.

The exhibition considers home not simply as a physical place, but as something built through generations of connection, routine, and belonging. Soft coastal colours evoke the sea, sky and landscape, while McKay's meticulous porcelain forms capture the quiet beauty found in repetition, growth and the passage of time.

The Beauty of Nature in Contemporary Ceramics

Deb McKay's ceramic practice is deeply informed by the intricate structures and patterns found throughout nature. Drawing inspiration from plants, shells, coral, seed pods and organic forms, she creates sculptures that balance remarkable technical precision with emotional resonance.

Working primarily in porcelain, McKay embraces a slow, meditative making process. Each piece is built through countless layers, carefully shaped and refined by hand. This investment of time is evident in every surface, inviting viewers to pause, observe closely, and appreciate the delicate complexity of each work.

Her restrained colour palette and repeated forms create a sense of calm while exploring the fascinating paradoxes found in both nature and clay: strength alongside fragility, permanence alongside impermanence.

From Design to Ceramics

Before establishing her ceramics practice in 2018, Deb McKay spent more than twenty years working in fashion and interior design. These creative foundations continue to influence her exploration of texture, symmetry, pattern and form.

Although largely self-taught, McKay quickly found an affinity with porcelain, discovering in the material the perfect medium for expressing her artistic vision.

An Award-Winning Australian Ceramic Artist

Deb McKay has received significant national recognition for her contemporary ceramic practice.

Her achievements include:

• Winner of the 2024 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize (Major Prize)
• Winner of the 2022 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize – Emerging Artist Award
• Highly Commended, Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize (2023)
• Highly Commended, Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize (2020)
• Finalist, National Emerging Art Prize (2021 & 2022)
• Finalist, Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award (2022)

These accolades reflect the growing recognition of McKay's exceptional ability to merge technical mastery with thoughtful exploration of the natural environment.

Visit my mother's house by the beach

This beautiful exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to experience the quiet power of porcelain sculpture and reflect on the places, landscapes and relationships that shape our lives.

Whether you're a collector of contemporary ceramics, an admirer of South Australian artists, or simply looking for inspiring exhibitions in Adelaide, My Mother's House by the Beach is not to be missed.

Exhibition: My Mother's House by the Beach
Artist: Deb McKay
Dates: 26 June – 26 July
Venue: Art Images Gallery, Adelaide

We look forward to welcoming you to experience Deb McKay's remarkable new body of work.