to be both free and safe

Kamberri/Canberra-based artist and writer Tom Campbell presents to be both free and safe, a solo exhibition exploring material and queer histories of craft. A graduate of the ANU School of Art & Design, Tom is trained in Textiles and Sculpture, and his quilted and embroidered textile objects exemplify the richness of ACT-based craft practice. His multidisciplinary work spans textiles, writing, and performance, often rooted in site-specific considerations. Tom’s practice investigates the influence of inheritance and ancestry on muscle memory and physical movement, such as boxing and dancing, connecting these to his Kadazan-Australian identity and queerness. This exhibition continues Tom’s exploration of the reconfigurable nature of textiles and craft, showcasing how these mediums can transform and narrate material histories. Through these pieces, to be both free and safe reveals the fluid potential of craft to convey both personal and collective narratives.