About Merran
An interdisciplinary artist with a passion for the ocean and an interest in coastal culture.
Combining Art & Education & Ocean Advocacy
Merran’s Story
Merran Hughes is an interdisciplinary artist, writer and curator, working on Gadigal and Bidjigal lands and sea-country, where she lives and swims.
Her current focus is sculpture, and she has a developing interest in bronze. Hughes has a passion for the ocean, and interest in coastal culture. Merran co-founded BLUE WORLD, www.blueworld.net.au which proudly supports the Valerie Taylor Ocean Prizes.
Mission
To create work that sparks wonder and a sense of custodianship in our local wild spaces and species.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Masters in Design, College of Fine Arts, UNSW
Graduate Certificate in Interactive Multimedia, UTS
Certificate III in Community Management, UTS
Certificate IV Workplace training and Assessment, TAFE
Residencies
Hughes has been awarded several residencies.
Feb- June 2025 Barrett House, Randwick City Council. Merran gratefully acknowledges the support of the council and the Australian Cultural Fund.
Selected other residencies include
2020 Love in the time of Covid South-West Health. A painting residency, and community project, collecting stories from the hospital, including the palliative care community, and local public schools in support of the hospital.
2019 Wild Lives the Edge Greenway, kindly funded by Inner West Council. As part of a residency at the Greenway, her sculptures were short listed for a public art commission.
Her work is featured in several public and private collections, including South-West Public Health; Waverley Library, and the Araluen Galleries.
2008 Merran received a regional arts award for sustained contribution to regional arts, for her work as Artistic Director of the Alice Springs Beanie Festival.
Workshops
Merran has facilitated innumerable community cultural projects and workshops, from the central desert Pitjantjatjara lands, to Redfern and Waterloo, Sydney. She engages with fabulous and diverse clients and loves to support clients with special needs to find their creative strengths.
Merran has facilitated workshops as part of Science Week, supported by Inspiring Australia. She is known for her sand sculpture events, and as part of the Ocean Lovers Festival and other sites including Mona Vale and Clovelly Beach. Her work was featured on the Morning Show.
Exhibitions
2024 Merran curated ART-Sea, an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum, as part of Science Week.
Her work has been featured in many group shows, including Mosman Gallery, Hazelhurst, Bondi Pavilion, Arthaus Gallery, Araluen Galleries among others.
Merran co-curated several exhibitions featuring central desert artists:
Colours of the Country toured the regional galleries circuit nationally and was shown at the National Museum in the ACT.
Mob of Mukata was shown at Araluen Galleries