Circe - Witch, Woman, Goddess - Ebony Russell (NSW) + Shana James (WA)

Opens SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER. Runs until Saturday 25 October 2025 

Circe – Witch, Woman, Goddess
A Collaborative Exhibition by Shana James and Ebony Russell

Perth printmaker Shana James and Sydney sculptor Ebony Russell present a collaborative exhibition as part of WEDGE | The Australian Ceramics Triennale 2025. Developed through an ongoing cross-country dialogue, their work draws on shared interests in narrative, myth, and feminist reinterpretation. 

The exhibition centres on the character Circe from Homer's Odyssey and the subject of Madeline Miller's novel Circe. Miller’s retelling positions Circe not as a supporting character in a male epic, but as a fully realised protagonist - complex, powerful, and transformative. 

Building on this perspective, James and Russell offer a visually rich and conceptually layered response that explores themes of agency, metamorphosis, and myth-making. Alongside Circe’s story, they delve into the roles and representations of women in Greek mythology, examining how these ancient narratives continue to shape perceptions of femininity and power. Combining narrative-based printmaking and delicately constructed ceramic forms, this exhibition unites the artists’ distinct practices into a cohesive and immersive experience — bridging Perth and Sydney through creative collaboration.

This exhibition emerges from a decade of dialogue and creative exchange between Perth-based printmaker and artist Shana James and Sydney-based sculptor Ebony Russell. The pair first met when Russell attended one of James’s linocut retreats in Ubud, Bali, later returning to assist in workshops — a role in which her insight and skill became integral. Despite living on opposite sides of the country, they maintained a sustained exchange of ideas and experiences, culminating in this collaborative exhibition.

Ebony Russell also collaborated with Italian ceramic artists, Marta Vino and Chiara Zoppei, through Ebony’s immersive residency spent at Salemi School of Ceramics, Salemi, Sicily and acknowledges their invaluable contribution.