08/08/2026
This new tapestry by Izabela Pluta is now on the loom at the Australian Tapestry Workshop, translated into woven form by Saffron Gardiner and the Workshop’s team. It will form part of Cavitation, Izabela’s most ambitious commission to date, opening at The Lock-Up and Newcastle’s Canoe Pool this September.
Commissioned with the support of The Lock-Up Patrons, this work reflects a community who believe in artists and in making ambitious new work possible. Together, they are helping build one of the country’s most distinctive artist-led commissioning programs, grounded in Newcastle and reaching beyond it.
Cavitation is a major international co-commission led by The Lock-Up with TRAFO Center for Contemporary Art (Poland), supported by Creative Australia and co-presented with New Annual 2026. Across tapestry, sculpture, photography, moving image and sound, Izabela brings personal histories into conversation with oceanic forces, migration, breath and environmental change.
We are deeply grateful to Izabela, Sophie and Saffron, the Australian Tapestry Workshop team, and every artist, researcher, maker, partner and Patron involved.
If you believe artists should have the opportunity to take risks and make work of lasting significance, we would love you to join us on 24 September or become part of The Lock-Up Patrons Program.
Cavitation
Izabela Pluta
The Lock-Up and Newcastle’s Canoe Pool
From 24 September 2026
Izabela Pluta is represented by Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert.
With Saffron Gardiner, Australian Tapestry Workshop, TRAFO Center for Contemporary Art, Creative Australia, Create NSW, New Annual, Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert and The Lock-Up Patrons.
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Images: Izabela Pluta, Sophie Travers and team including weaver Saffron Gardiner at the Australian Tapestry Workshop, Naarm / Melbourne.
