Michael Reid Murrurundi is pleased to present a selection of works from Unfolded Linen on Linen II by Eora/Sydney-based contemporary painter and former National Emerging Art Prize finalist Mary Stack.

In her confidently pared-back, richly nuanced paintings, Stack deftly expands the parameters of the still-life genre by isolating everyday textiles – handkerchiefs, table runners, tea towels – and rendering them with luminous precision and striking depth. Drawing an unlikely connection between humble, handmade domestic keepsakes and the spare geometries of minimalist art, Stack’s painted linens register folds and creases as subtle traces of human touch, inviting a visual tension between gridded order and organic irregularity.

“The series explores the interplay between fabric folds, the technique of trompe l’œil, and the structure of the grid,” says the artist. “Everyday items such as handkerchiefs and tea towels felt like a familiar starting point. They are recognisable to most people, which means they often carry personal associations. While I wasn’t aiming for a specific emotional response, many viewers have mentioned feeling a sense of nostalgia. What appeals to me is that when you unfold a folded piece of fabric, it reveals a grid pattern. The process of unfolding introduces disruptions to the grid, and that creates a visual tension between order and disorder that I find compelling.”

for enquiries, please email amandamackinlay@michaelreid.com.au