Wayne Eager and Ayako Saito Dual Exhibitions at Australian Galleries

Australian Galleries in Sydney and Melbourne are hosting simultaneous exhibitions by Wayne Eager and Ayako Saito in July 2026. Eager's 'Field Notes' in Sydney (7–25 July) presents abstract paintings inspired by his life in the Yarra Valley and thirty years in the Central Australian Desert with his wife Marina Strocchi. His works, built up in layers of oil or acrylic, feature geometric lines and vibrant hues, with pieces like 'Objective' (2026) using black lines and sunset colors to create narrative maps. Saito's 'The Sum of my Parts' in Melbourne (21 July–8 August) showcases steel, bronze, and paper sculptures characterized by bold colors and clean lines. The exhibition includes both old and new works, highlighting her experimental practice that tests forms for larger commissions. Saito recently won the 2025 'Mid-Career' Helen Lempriere Scholarship from Sculpture by the Sea, installed a monumental work at the University of Sydney, and placed a large sculpture in the High Court Sydney's courtyard. Her approach prioritizes form, with material dictating interpretation and color matching the character of the form.