Kendal Murray acquired by MONA

We are thrilled to share that Kendal Murray’s brilliant work ‘Faster, Faster, Sticking Plaster’ was acquired by The Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) for their collection. The work will be on display permanently as part of Director David Walsh's ‘Phrontisterion’, an innovative library that houses his large and ever-growing collection of books, rare volumes, maps and manuscripts. Phrontisterion is a greek word meaning school or place of learning, a fitting name for this monumental new space, but also intended to be a little comical on Walsh's part with MONA's rebellious, colourful energy and their drive to make learning and the arts more accessible. Murray's work is now permanently installed in the dedicated and separate children's library; the kind of library you dreamed about as a child. Cave-like and cosy with flashes of bright pop and primary colours in the cushions and decor, it is situated in the undergrounds of the museum and features artworks hidden amongst the walls in porthole windows where Murray's work can be found and children can discover as they explore the library.

'Faster, Faster, Sticking Plaster' is a mixed media assemblage of antique teacups and found objects where Murray's tiny characters engage with the sculpture, enacting a range of playful and dramatic scenarios. Recalling the joy of childhood, the sculpture recalls memories of time spent in nature with references to the circus and nostalgia. Foliage drops in suspended animation, and we gaze with apprehension waiting to see what happens next. Will the elephant let his trunk fall and let the marble drop? Or will the delicate arrangement of teacups tumble in mischievous play. It is a magical work for children to find as they learn and discover reading.

The artwork shows the fun and social development children can experience through outdoor play in the assembling of tiny characters and through the circus illustrations on the cup and saucers that make up the skate park, a clown trumpeting the beginning of a race, and the performing of circus tricks and acrobatic skills. The dynamic nature of imaginative outdoor play in the movement of the stacked and balanced objects, as well as humour and the dynamic positioning of the garden elements, is integrated into the play elements of the artwork.— Kendal Murray

Murray has had numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and her work is held in public and private collections in Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the UK, New York and Australia, including the Powerhouse Museum, Goulburn Regional Gallery, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, University of Western Sydney, University of New South Wales and the Commonwealth Bank Collection. She has been the recipient of several awards including the Deakin Small Sculpture Prize (2015) and the Beowulf Award in the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize (2015). Her work has also been selected as finalist multiple times in the Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize (2023, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2004, 2001). She holds an MA (Hons) in Visual Art.

23 July 2026