Bronwen is a multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of ecology and biomaterial innovation, engaging in design, sculpture, moving image, and bio-based materials. 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 works have been showcased at the Green Design Show, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, and Linden New Art Gallery. Bronwen’s work was featured in Design Fringe 2024 as part of Arts Access Victoria's "Touch Tours," which provide access for people who are blind or have low vision to experience art, fostering untapped audiences and promoting creative solutions for full and equal participation. The City of Melbourne recently engaged Bronwen to enhance the city’s artistic and cultural landscape with her proposal, “Flourish: Hemp-Fuelled Urban Oases,” which will be exhibited in 2025.



Artist & Designer

Bronwen Main


Bibliography

Email


Exhibitions & Commissions
Upcoming



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.