A Nest in the Hills: The Symbiosis of Women and Birds in Art

5 December 2025 – 25 March 2026

Image: Anna-Wili Highfield The raven 2024

A Nest in the Hills: The Symbiosis of Women and Birds in Contemporary Art is an exhibition that delves into the complex and multifaceted relationship between women and birds. This exhibition brings together contemporary artists whose works explore themes of freedom, transformation, identity and the natural world through the motif of birds.

Birds have long been symbolic in art and literature, often representing freedom, transformation and the ethereal. In contemporary art, the depiction of women and birds can evoke powerful narratives about identity, liberation, ecofeminism and the human connection to nature. This exhibition aims to explore these themes by showcasing works that highlight the symbiotic relationship between women and birds, whilst emphasising how this connection can reflect deeper societal and personal issues. Most of the participating artists have stories of their own relationships to birds – whether as representations of another world, or as symbols of their own personal struggles or triumphs.

It will primarily include works by established female artists from across Australia, including First Nations artists and artists from the Mid-Western Region. Exhibiting artists include: Petrina Hicks, Anna-Wili Highfield, Deborah Kelly, Lucy Culliton, Lorraine Connelly-Northey, Michelle Cawthorne, Diane Fogwell, Kim Goldsmith, Denise Faulkner, Fleur McDonald, Aleshia Lonsdale, Kim Harding, Michelle Steven and Pamela Wels

A Nest in the Hills: The Symbiosis of Women and Birds in Contemporary Australia Art

Venue: Mudgee Arts Precinct
Dates: 5 December 2025 – 25 March 2026