Art and martinis at marvellous new gallery

The Star, Sydney is celebrating the launch of a conceptually new art space: the Michael Reid Art Bar. This innovative, dual-personality venue is a contemplative gallery during the day, then transforms into a vivacious bar once the sun goes down. As part of their opening festivities, the gallery is holding a special exhibition, Boom Boom, a kaleidoscope of works featuring three extraordinary artists: Kate Rohde, Gerwyn Davies, and Samuel Hodge. 

Kate Rohde is a jeweller, sculptor, and maker of natural wonders. Working with polyurethane resin, Rohde builds gorgeously grotesque, multi-coloured marvels that are like fantastic coral or psychedelic creatures. 

Gerwyn Davies designs sculptural costumes that are outrageous and completely impractical. Embracing queerness in an unbridled freedom of expression, Davies uses unconventional materials and a lot of imagination, creating eye-popping regalia that ranges from giant, Anime-styled characters to illusion-inducing patterns and shapes to shimmering, ready-for-the-parade wear. 

Samuel Hodge’s work is flat and mounted on a wall but feels like it fully envelopes you. In collages of multi-layered graphics, Hodge’s installations are expansive, absorbing and hypnotic. 

These three incredible artists will be featured in Boom Boom until September 18. The gallery will have a new exhibition every four to six weeks. 

Michael Reid is a highly respected fine art dealer, Australian born and raised, and dedicated to representing Australian art and artists. His gallery in Berlin is at the forefront of showing and selling Australian contemporary and indigenous art. The flagship Chippendale gallery, along with galleries in the Northern Beaches, Southern Highlands, and Murrurundi showcase unique local artists across a range of disciplines. 

The new Michael Reid Art Bar at The Star offers an augmented sensual experience. Once the sun slips away, the cocktails shakers come out and you can sit and discuss abstract expressionism over an espresso martini. 

If the visual feast has whet your appetite, there’s a menu of morsels available, including warm marinated olives, jamon with sourdough, foie gras with pane carasau, and cheese platter with honeycomb, strawberry, and a walnut log. 

Every sense satisfied. 

Boom Boom at the Michael Reid Art Bar

Until September 18

The Star Sydney, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont 

michaelreidartbar.com.au