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Insects, Botanicals and other Works

BACK TO EXIBITIONS

Event Start & End Dates

Start Date: October 29, 2025
End Date: November 23, 2025
Artist: Ray Besserdin

WHEN | 29 October – 23 November 2025
WHERE | Residents Gallery
ARTIST TALK | Saturday 1 November, 2pm – 3pm

 

@papersculptureartist

www.papersculptureartist.com

Insects, Botanicals and other Works

Experience a unique exhibition showcasing three-dimensional sculptured paper artworks depicting insects, botanical and other works created by world acclaimed Paper Sculpture Artist, Ray Besserdin.
Delve into the exhibition with an opportunity to meet the artist behind these captivating pieces at a talk on 1st October 2025 from 2pm till 3pm. Learn from Ray how he pioneeredhis extraordinary artworks and what makes paper such a special medium. Discover the philosophy behind his signature “Impressionist Sculptured Paper” style that captures expression, emotion and life without realism, using torn sculptured papers.
He uses only sheet-formed papers to offer him a wide spectrum of colours, textures, solidity, and delicate translucency for sculpting, much like bas-relief, while ensuring the medium’s beautiful, intrinsic nature is never lost. Most of his papers are handmade or mould-made from new and recycled cotton, mulberry and flax fibres. The specialty of making his preferred papers comes from historic mills like Hahnemuhle of Germany, Arches of France, Somerset of England, Awagami of Japan, and a favourite locally based Creative Paper Tasmania.

 

ARTIST BIO

Born to artist parents, with a 36-year career, Ray Besserdin is an internationally Montsalvat Page 2 of 10 recognised entirely self-taught artist. Besides innovating the sculpture technique for which he has received world acclaim, Ray pioneered a signature “Impressionist Sculptured Paper” style much like painting using sculptured torn papers in bas-relief to capture expression and emotion without strict realism. Works range from abstract to ultra-realistic, from miniature to gigantic and while nature is his favourite subject, he also enjoys portraiture and freeform.
Besides his private and corporate commissions, Ray’s artwork has been selected as a show finalist locally and internationally numerous times, won close to 40 awards including multiple gold, silver, bronze medals and honorable mentions together with cash prizes. He has been gallery owner, artist in residence, taught his techniques to both student and professional artists locally and in Canada. His works have been the subject of countless interviews and publications in Australia and abroad, including Art and Museum in the UK and the MET, New York. Ray has held numerous solo shows and contributed to many combined exhibitions, including by invitation at the Carrousel du Louvre, Paris 2019. Works hang in private and corporate collections in London, Munich, Monaco, Manhattan, Tokyo, New Zealand, Copenhagen and throughout Australia.

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    Montsalvat Artist Community acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional owners of the land and waters on which our community is located. We pay respect to their elders past and present, and recognise the rich traditions and continuing creative cultures of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia.

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    Emma Rose

    Emma is heavily inspired by the natural world in material and form. She collects her own clay and utilises natural found materials in both her clay bodies and glaze.

    Emma has a Bachelor’s degree in Ceramics from RMIT and has practiced and trained in Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan under various teachers. She is passionate about woodfiring, learning traditional techniques and practicing throwing as a meditative task.

    Madelyn Mckenzie

    Madelyn McKenzie is a Ceramic Artist who specialises in sculpture. Madelyn’s sculptures are inspired by Victorian architecture and wrought iron fences as well as life experiences delving into childhood and escapism. Madelyn is a teacher at Montsalvat and is completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts at RMIT majoring in Ceramics. She loves teaching children and helping students expand on their sculpting skills and ideas.

    Siena Hyland

    Growing up in Nillumbik has offered Siena a world of inspiration for working with clay. First practicing in the studio of Judy Trembath as a child, Siena has been at Montsalvat for over four years, as a student and junior tutor.

     Siena’s work is inspired by the interplay of earth and fire in the landscape and potter’s craft. Currently studying integrative psychotherapy, Siena finds joy in sharing the immersive experience of clay.

    Keiko Matsui

    Keiko has over 20 years’ experience working in ceramics, initially moving to Australia in 1999 from Japan and completing a Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) degree in 2006 at the National Art School in Sydney.

    She has been teaching ceramics for adults and children in Sydney since 2007, including a porcelain technique courses at Hornsby TAFE, NSW. Keiko’s way of teaching is student focused; she observes each student’s needs and teaches them individually with her Osakan sense of humour and smile.

    Keiko is also a studio artist at Montsalvat and you can find some of her beautiful work in the Montsalvat Shop.

    Mary-Lou Pittard

    Mary-lou has worked in her Eltham Studio as a professional potter for over 35 years.  She is a well known local identity through her community involvement, as an artist in residence with local schools, working with the Nillumbik Shire on large scale ceramic murals and smaller class room projects.

    Mary-lou produces brightly coloured stoneware ceramics in her studio/gallery established at her home. Her work can also be admired & purchased at the Montsalvat Shop.

    Mary-lou aims to create an energizing and creative haven for you at Clay Talk, where you can explore and develop your hand-building skills.

    Tracey Hollis

    Tracey Hollis majored in ceramics in the 1990s whilst studying fine arts at James Cook University and QUT in Queensland.

    Tracey has been teaching pottery in Eltham and Box Hill for the past 7 years at Community Arts Centre’s as well as through her own studio and loves the functionality of wheel thrown and hand built pottery. She enjoys seeing the positive benefits that working with clay provides and loves helping others learn and express their creativity through pottery.

    Tracey appreciates the importance of the creators hand marks on pottery and takes inspiration from Asian and European influences as well as noted Australian potters such as Owen Rye and John Dermer.

    Yuso Lee

    Yuso has taught all levels and ages how to throw and hand build over her 20+ year career.  Yuso is originally from Korea.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Ceramics in Korea and a Diploma of Ceramics from Holmesglen College of TAFE in Melbourne.  She has lived and taught in Australia since 2005.

    Yuso gets inspiration for her ceramic arts from inner emotions and the environment she lives in. She works the clay into ceramic pieces that reflect her inner feelings. Other part of her ceramic art is the building series. These represent her urban surroundings. Yuso reflects Melbourne city views at dusk in the form of ceramic pieces.

    Sergei Shatrov

    Sergei began his life with ceramics at Cooma TAFE NSW in 1993 before moving onto the Australian National University’s Canberra School of Arts under Janet De Boos, Anita Macintyre, Hiroe Swen and Greg Daly in 2003. Since then he has studied and worked in ceramic workshops and studios in Seto Japan, Minnesota, Northern California and North Carolina.

    Sergei’s aesthetic and influences also come from various Asian traditions and philosophies. With many a story to tell in his adventures of clay, Sergei is a passionate advocate for discovering the self through the beauty and function of form at all skill levels.

    Jessie Pittard

    Jessie Pittard is a passionate printmaker and ceramicist. Growing up with both parents involved with ceramics, she has spent her life immersed in clay. Her studies and technical training as a printmaker at RMIT have influenced her approach.  Within her practice Jessie enjoys exploration and experimentation of form, design and process in both her functional ware as well as her sculptural works.

    Jessie has been running her ceramic business from her studio in Eltham. You can find some of Jessie’s functional ceramics at the Montsalvat shop.

    Josephine Cassar

    Josephine is a local and long time ceramic artist of Eltham with a great gift in making and understanding functional ceramic ware. Of European extraction and with decades of experience, Josephine’s skill in understanding how to make functional ware and using the right glazes is second to none. Well respected locally, Josephine is an excellent teacher ceramics teacher and someone you will thoroughly enjoy as a beginner or more experienced pottery/ceramic maker.

    Sasha “Tatts” Tattam

    Tatts, an artist with a strong background and expertise in mosaic sculpture, has embarked on an artistic journey enriched by a deep understanding of biophysical and chemical materialism philosophies. Through her dedication, she has discovered a captivating passion for working with clay, exploring the intricate realms of glaze chemistry and pushing the boundaries of experimental kiln practices.

    Currently in her final year pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Ceramics at RMIT, Tatts goes above and beyond by curating and producing captivating art exhibitions. Her commitment extends to fostering a sense of community through her involvement with local art collectives in the vibrant north inner city of Melbourne.

    Rob Matheson

    From an early age I have felt driven to express myself through visual art. This, together with a passion for nature in its many and varied forms especially gems and minerals, have always offered great inspiration for my work, which entails both painting and sculpture. An artistic temperament coupled with a strong scientific interest and a sense of wonder for the way the world is ordered has led me to experiment with a range of media including both two and three dimensions.

    Over a number of years I have been involved in various community arts projects and school residencies. I have been an artist in residence for a number of years at Beaconhills College in Pakenham. I have completed an artist in residence at Scotch College at Hawthorn involving the students to produce two ceramic totem poles depicting Australian nocturnal birds and animals. Prior to this I was also an artist in residence at Yarra Valley Grammar involving the Year 9 students.

    I see my art as a vehicle for life long learning, and as a means of sharing the knowledge through teaching. I gain an immense sense of satisfaction in being able to help and encourage others through art. In summary, I consider my art as a journey of discovery with no perceptible end. A process of continual development and exchange of ideas and as a way of making a positive contribution to the human condition.