What I Learned from the Décor + Design Show

Last week we were at the Convention Centre for the Décor + Design Show. The month before that, we were there for the Design Show, same venue, completely different experience.

The first thing I learned was that I’d made an inaccurate assumption: that the two shows would be similar. They weren’t. The layout, the exhibitors, and even the attendees were about 90% different. And honestly, I think it’s important that they are different. Both are excellent shows, precisely because of their distinct identities.

Having now participated in these two events, as well as Melbourne Design Week earlier this year, I’ve had the opportunity to encounter the world of art through the lens of designers, architects, and interior professionals. These experiences have reshaped how I understand the role of original art in broader design contexts. The conversations have been insightful, the collaborations promising, and the relationships; both with professionals and with their clients, deeply valuable.

I really enjoyed the space we were allocated at the Décor + Design Show, our position in the floor plan, and the people who came through. Some of the most meaningful connections were entirely unexpected, the kind of encounters you can’t plan for, but that unfold when you’re present and open.

Now, after three design-focused events back-to-back, we’re heading into a radically different setting: the Affordable Art Fair next month. A gallery-led art fair that exclusively exhibits original contemporary artworks, including limited edition photography and other media. I’m looking forward to the contrast and to the learning that comes from stepping between different kinds of audiences and contexts.

What’s been important for me throughout this process is the willingness to experiment, to try things not only to find where I fit, but also to understand how various contexts operate and how people from different industries relate to art.

And perhaps the biggest thing I’ve learned is that I don’t need to “fit” anywhere. Wherever I show up, there will be those who connect, and those who don’t. That’s okay.

There’s a unique value in showing up in contexts where people aren’t necessarily attending for original contemporary art, and where it’s not saturated with it. While the show wasn’t dedicated to art, it still made space for it. And sometimes, being one of only a few exhibiting artists in a design-focused environment allows the work to stand out in a different way. That kind of visibility is quiet, but potent.

Art needs to be seen. And being present, in spaces willing to make room for art too, is sometimes the very thing that creates the conditions for new possibilities.

This has been the case for me. I look forward to sharing more soon.