We are proud to present Objects of Desire, Objects of Necessity a visual duet by Corinne Lewis and Anne Smerdon at Manyung Gallery Malvern.
In this exhibition, Anne Smerdon and Corinne Lewis explore the dualities that shape our inner lives — what we long for and what we depend on. Through their contrasting subjects and sensibilities, they reveal how beauty, vulnerability and endurance coexist in quiet conversation.
At first glance, their works seem to inhabit different worlds: sensual portraits of women adorned with lace and florals alongside contemplative still lifes of amber bottles and fruit. Yet beneath these surfaces lies a shared inquiry into the rituals, both public and private, that define human experience.
Corinne Lewis’s paintings celebrate the textures and symbols of femininity. Vintage lace, delicate florals and composed gestures evoke themes of beauty, identity and self-possession. Her figures invite both admiration and introspection, revealing the strength within the act of self-presentation.
In contrast, Anne Smerdon’s contemplative still lifes offer a private and introspective narrative. Her compositions elevate the humble — empty medicine bottles, citrus fruit from a neighbour’s tree, and her two inquisitive parrots who are constant companions in the studio. These quiet arrangements speak of care, interdependence and the small, sustaining rituals of daily life. Through them, Smerdon reveals how moments of tenderness and vitality can emerge from the most ordinary of things.
Together, Smerdon and Lewis invite us to reflect on the balance between indulgence and endurance, desire and dependency, vitality and fragility. Their works remind us that what sustains us and what we long for often live side by side.
Exhibition opening
Thursday 23rd October, 2025
Manyung Gallery Malvern
6 - 10 Claremont Ave, Malvern
exhibition runs until 8th November 2025
To register your interest in this exhibition or to receive an early preview catalogue, please contact malvern@manyunggallery.com.au or call
Sharyn Wemyss-Smith 0419 595 222
