At the intersection of sculpture and silk, colour and couture, a new collaboration between London artist Elsbeth Shaw and Sydney designer Mariam Seddiq is redefining the dialogue between art and fashion.
Brought together by Studio Gallery, the partnership is a study in precision and poetry. Elsbeth Shaw, known for her expressive and tactile canvases, reimagines one of Mariam Seddiq’s architectural gowns — a silhouette both powerful and fluid — with thousands of delicately hand-painted circles. Captured through the lens of Harry Hayes and brought to life by Amer Athiu, the work shimmers with motion and meaning.
Titled To Watch the Sunrise, the piece forms part of a limited edition of three, unveiled across Studio Gallery’s Waterloo and Fortitude Valley spaces until 7 November. For Seddiq, whose decade-long fashion journey has dressed global icons including Rita Ora and Kelly Rowland, the collaboration marks a moment of reflection and renewal.
“Art is the foundation of MARIAM SEDDIQ,” she says. “Elsbeth’s flawless artwork — painted with the colour of joy, boldness and renewal — makes this partnership the perfect way to celebrate our 10th anniversary.”
For Shaw, the collaboration is a full-circle moment. Having previously been commissioned by the likes of Paul Smith, her relationship with fashion has long informed her creative language. “My lifelong journey with fashion and art has never lost its joy,” she reflects. “Collaborating with Mariam — whose vision empowers and uplifts — has been nothing short of magic.”
The pairing captures a broader creative rhythm shaping the worlds of both art and design. From Dior to Loewe, the boundaries between atelier and studio are dissolving, replaced by a shared pursuit of beauty, form and emotion. Yet as Studio Gallery Director Kerry Armstrong notes, the intimacy of this project is what makes it truly special. “It shows that independent voices can make just as powerful an impact as the major fashion houses,” she says.
An ode to collaboration, craftsmanship and courage, To Watch the Sunrise reminds us that art and fashion are not separate languages, but two expressions of the same creative heart.
For lovers of contemporary art in Brisbane, don’t miss Elsbeth Shaw’s solo exhibition, ‘Perfectly in Time’, showing until 7 November 2025 at Studio Gallery, 7D Wandoo Street, Fortitude Valley.
