Bronwen Main is a multidisciplinary artist and designer working at the intersection of ecology and biomaterial innovation, engaging in furniture, architecture and sculpture. Through her practice, she aims to pave the way for more regenerative practices in urban art, demonstrating how public art projects can foster community and environmental stewardship in shared spaces for both human and non-human. 

Her background is in contemporary art and architecture. Before completing her Master of Architecture at the University of Melbourne, Bronwen studied Contemporary Art in New York and later became an ambassador in the Visitor Experience Team at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. During this time, this museum welcomed 7 million visitors annually. This experience transformed Bronwen’s understanding of audience engagement, the accessibility of public art, and the role of arts programming in shaping cities.

Bronwen has lectured and taught design studios, technology, history, and theory at the Melbourne School of Design and the Monash Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture. She has studied at Tianjin University, China, and the Pratt School of Architecture, in Brooklyn. In 2019, she conducted research at the Pratt Consortium for Research and Robotics to explore new modes of creative production utilising New York City’s largest industrial robot. 

Bronwen practiced at Kerstin Thompson Architects and SJB, before starting her own design and artistic practice. Her works have been showcased at the Green Design Show, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Salamanca Arts Centre, Linden New Art Gallery and Melbourne Design Week.


Artist & Designer

Bronwen Main


Bibliography

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 Exhibitions & Commissions
Current

Past



“Harvest” Series of Hemp Murals, Green Design Show Melbourne Exhibition Centre (2024)

Hemp Furniture Series

The Main Chair: Furniture Designs for “In Conversation” Series Music VenueHigh Note, Northcote (2023)

Algorithm-aided design: New modes of creative production Pratt Consortium for Research & Robotics, Brooklyn NC (2019)

    "Flourish: Hemp-Fueled Urban Oases" is a public art initiative using hemp-based furniture
    to create vibrant, biodiverse green spaces in cities. The sustainable designs incorporate
    native plant seeds, fostering thriving ecosystems that beautify public areas and support
    local wildlife, blending environmental stewardship with innovative urban design.

    Flourish harnesses the natural properties of hemp to craft durable, sustainable public
    furniture that serves as catalysts for vibrant, biodiverse ecosystems within city landscapes.

    The artistic and creative strength of the Flourish concept lies in its ability to blend cuttingedge
    material science, regenerative ecological principles, and imaginative placemaking.
    By weaving hemp with native plant seeds, the project's furniture designs organically
    transform over time, evolving from functional seating into lush, verdant "oases" that support
    pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. This process of gradual metamorphosis creates an everchanging,
    dynamic public art experience that invites community members to witness and
    participate in the natural cycles of growth and renewal.

    Flourish embraces an ethos of bold experimentation. Rather than relying on traditional,
    static public art installations, the project reimagines the role of urban furniture as a
    vibrant, living canvas that evolves organically over time. This daring approach challenges
    conventional notions of "finished" artwork, instead positioning the public as active
    participants in an ever-unfolding creative process.

    The result is a uniquely immersive, participatory public art experience that captivates the
    senses and imagination. As community members interact with the hemp-based furniture,
    they bear witness to the gradual emergence of lush, biodiverse ecosystems, fostering
    a deeper sense of connection to the natural world and a renewed appreciation for the
    restorative power of urban greenspaces.

    This diverse, cross-functional collaboration allows Flourish to leverage a wide breadth of
    expertise, from material engineering to ecological restoration, ensuring the final designs
    not only invite respite and community conversation, but also actively support biodiversity in
    urban spaces.

    Through its bold experimentation and collaborative spirit, Flourish redefines the role
    of public art in catalyzing meaningful, lasting change within the urban landscape. By
    transforming functional public furniture into living, evolving ecosystems, the project
    invites the community to play an active role in the regeneration of their local environment,
    fostering a deeper sense of connection and stewardship.

    Open to all audiences in mid-2025.