RAY MONDE
The Place We Feel Most Us
Braidwood artist Ray Monde is tackling the cost-of-living crisis and inspiring new art collectors in his upcoming show at Tyger Gallery, Yass - The Place We Feel Most Us.The show - which opens on Saturday 24 May - will have three of Ray’s superb ghost-worked collage pieces available to new collectors on a ‘pay what you can’ basis.
Ray Monde is a collage artist who has been finalist in the Blake Prize (2022, 2020), Paddington Art Prize (2021, 2024), Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize (2020) and National Works on Paper Prize (2022, 2020). In 2024 he was a Bundanon Artist-in-Residence.
The 21 works in The Place We Feel Most Us explore intimate connections in vast and vivid landscapes of deeply personal meeting. It is Ray’s second show at Tyger following last year’s hugely popular The Road to Wee Jasper.
Three of the works in the show have been set aside for new collectors who couldn’t normally afford to buy original art. The works will be offered on a ‘pay what you can’ basis through the gallery.
“I’ve always wanted to make art as accessible to as many people as possible. Art is to be lived with, enjoyed. Without an audience art is dead,” Ray said.
“A lot of people have asked if they can buy prints of my work because they can’t necessarily afford an original piece, especially if they’re just starting their collecting journey. And I know from first-hand experience, that once you start collecting, you can’t stop.”
“So this is my way to help people acquire their first piece and experience what it’s like to live with art. Being surrounded by beautiful things brings long-term happiness rather than short-term pleasure, ” he added.
“Here’s how it works: there’s a low minimum price on the work and if a first time collector wants to acquire the piece, they just have to tell us why they like it, why it should go to them, and how much they want to pay.”
“This particular exhibition looks at the special places we have in our heart. The places where we feel ourselves, where we are totally relaxed and we can let our guard down. We’re often very protective of these spaces, so when we invite people in, it’s because we trust them and want to share an important piece of ourselves.”
“In all my works are these little fellas, these folk who are sharing a special bond in an emotional landscape. I like to think we see ourselves in these little fellas. There’s a quiet intimacy in this exhibition that I hope will remind everyone of the places where they feel most themselves.”
Gallery owner and Head Tyger Martyn Pearce said he expects significant interest in Ray’s new show.
“Ray Monde’s work is a huge favourite of gallery visitors, and this show is an outstanding new collection of work.”
“Ray and Tyger are committed to making fine art accessible to everyone, so we’re thrilled that three lucky new art collectors will be able to snap up works from a highly sought-after artist.”
The opening celebration for The Place We Feel Most Us takes place at Tyger on Saturday 24 May, 1-3pm. The show runs until 7 June.