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Thea Katauskas
Artist
Birdland exhibition at Walkway Gallery in Bordertown, South Australia
from 10 August - 12 September 2025
Birdland is a collection of paintings and ceramic sculptures created as a result of a 2024 Artist Residency in Naracoorte, South Australia. Drawn to the region for its birdlife, I explored the RAMSAR-listed Bool and Hacks Lagoon wetlands and Bourne’s Bird Museum. Observing the dry season wetlands inspired reflections on change, resilience, and the shifting habitats of migratory birds - all central themes woven throughout the works.
*A RAMSAR-listed site is a wetland recognised as internationally important under the Ramsar Convention for its ecological or environmental significance. Photo by Sarah Cunningham
*A RAMSAR-listed site is a wetland recognised as internationally important under the Ramsar Convention for its ecological or environmental significance. Photo by Sarah Cunningham
Absent Friends, 2025
Collection of 23 ceramic wall sculptures representing the imagined migratory bird species that have yet to arrive at the lagoon.
Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Absent Friends (detail)
The gesture, movement and interaction of individual characters reflects the interdependence of living species to communicate and fulfil various roles in their habitat. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Greater Mayor Bird, 2025 (detail)
Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 39 x 24 x 16 cm. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Broad Beaked Companion Bird, 2025 (detail).
Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 33 x 23 x 15 cm
Red Lagoon, Dry Wetland (Bool Lagoon), 2025.
Oil on canvas. 122 x 91 cm. Tasmanian oak frame.
This image presents the great expanse of the dry lagoon basin, covered in vibrant samphire plants and scattered tea tree shrubs. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
This image presents the great expanse of the dry lagoon basin, covered in vibrant samphire plants and scattered tea tree shrubs. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Bool Lagoon -Samphire Islands, 2025 and Bool Lagoon - Grasses and Samphire, 2025.
Oil on canvas. Both paintings 122 x 91 cm with Tasmanian Oak frames.
These images are different aspects around the edges of Bool Lagoon. Coral-like outcrops of red samphire amongst dry grasses, reeds and rushes. Clusters of hardy tea tree scrub under big skies. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
These images are different aspects around the edges of Bool Lagoon. Coral-like outcrops of red samphire amongst dry grasses, reeds and rushes. Clusters of hardy tea tree scrub under big skies. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Orange Crested Ant Bird
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 36 x 20 x 15 cm
Crested Citrus Scout
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 30 x 23 x 13 cm
Crested Shrub Hen
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 16 x 25 x 11 cm
Resting Red Cheek
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 33 x 19 x 10 cm
Pointed Rush Crow
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 25 x 25 x 12 cm
Spotted Moonbird
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 18 x 30 x 13 cm
Rare Earth Bird
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 33 x 18 x 10 cm
Absent Friends (detail)
Patient Scallop Wing
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint.
Horned Thornbird
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 29 x 17 x 8 cm
Curious Wedge Petrel
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 39 x 21 x 12 cm
Dreaming Split Wing
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 30 x 23 x 8 cm
Uncommon Striped Shoveler
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 31 x 15 x 13 cm
Rust Beaked Marsh Wanderer
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 35 x 18 x 10 cm
Diamond Trigger Bird
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 36 x 18 x 12 cm
Striped Grand Harrier
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 43 x 21 x 12 cm
Birdland exhibition at Walkway Gallery in Bordertown, South Australia
from 10 August - 12 September 2025
Birdland is a collection of paintings and ceramic sculptures created as a result of a 2024 Artist Residency in Naracoorte, South Australia. Drawn to the region for its birdlife, I explored the RAMSAR-listed Bool and Hacks Lagoon wetlands and Bourne’s Bird Museum. Observing the dry season wetlands inspired reflections on change, resilience, and the shifting habitats of migratory birds - all central themes woven throughout the works.
*A RAMSAR-listed site is a wetland recognised as internationally important under the Ramsar Convention for its ecological or environmental significance. Photo by Sarah Cunningham
*A RAMSAR-listed site is a wetland recognised as internationally important under the Ramsar Convention for its ecological or environmental significance. Photo by Sarah Cunningham
Absent Friends, 2025
Collection of 23 ceramic wall sculptures representing the imagined migratory bird species that have yet to arrive at the lagoon.
Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Absent Friends (detail)
The gesture, movement and interaction of individual characters reflects the interdependence of living species to communicate and fulfil various roles in their habitat. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Greater Mayor Bird, 2025 (detail)
Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 39 x 24 x 16 cm. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Broad Beaked Companion Bird, 2025 (detail).
Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 33 x 23 x 15 cm
Red Lagoon, Dry Wetland (Bool Lagoon), 2025.
Oil on canvas. 122 x 91 cm. Tasmanian oak frame.
This image presents the great expanse of the dry lagoon basin, covered in vibrant samphire plants and scattered tea tree shrubs. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
This image presents the great expanse of the dry lagoon basin, covered in vibrant samphire plants and scattered tea tree shrubs. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Bool Lagoon -Samphire Islands, 2025 and Bool Lagoon - Grasses and Samphire, 2025.
Oil on canvas. Both paintings 122 x 91 cm with Tasmanian Oak frames.
These images are different aspects around the edges of Bool Lagoon. Coral-like outcrops of red samphire amongst dry grasses, reeds and rushes. Clusters of hardy tea tree scrub under big skies. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
These images are different aspects around the edges of Bool Lagoon. Coral-like outcrops of red samphire amongst dry grasses, reeds and rushes. Clusters of hardy tea tree scrub under big skies. Photo: Sarah Cunningham.
Orange Crested Ant Bird
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 36 x 20 x 15 cm
Crested Citrus Scout
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 30 x 23 x 13 cm
Crested Shrub Hen
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 16 x 25 x 11 cm
Resting Red Cheek
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 33 x 19 x 10 cm
Pointed Rush Crow
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 25 x 25 x 12 cm
Spotted Moonbird
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 18 x 30 x 13 cm
Rare Earth Bird
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 33 x 18 x 10 cm
Absent Friends (detail)
Patient Scallop Wing
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint.
Horned Thornbird
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 29 x 17 x 8 cm
Curious Wedge Petrel
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 39 x 21 x 12 cm
Dreaming Split Wing
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 30 x 23 x 8 cm
Uncommon Striped Shoveler
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 31 x 15 x 13 cm
Rust Beaked Marsh Wanderer
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 35 x 18 x 10 cm
Diamond Trigger Bird
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 36 x 18 x 12 cm
Striped Grand Harrier
2025. Earthenware, glazes, ink and enamel paint. 43 x 21 x 12 cm
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