A new contemporary gallery has opened in the heart of Bellingen, shining a light on the region’s growing community of artists and makers who work with their hands.
Furniture Object Gallery, known as FOG, officially opened last Thursday night on Hyde Street, drawing a warm crowd of locals to its first exhibition.
FOG is the initiative of fine furniture maker Chi Yusuf, who moved to Bellingen two years ago and was struck by the depth of creative talent in the area. While many local artists work quietly from studios and sheds, often showing their work online or in major cities, Chi felt the time was right to create a dedicated space for object-based work in the centre of town.
“Bellingen has a strong creative pulse,” Chi said.
“There’s a real culture of making here, shaped by the landscape and the community. FOG is about giving that work a place to be seen, experienced, and taken seriously.”
Chi said rural galleries offer something distinct from their city counterparts.
“Removed from fast-moving art circuits, they invite slower engagement and a closer connection between artist, object, and audience.”
The name Furniture Object Gallery points to the gallery’s focus: artists who create physical objects, whether functional, sculptural, or somewhere in between.
The opening exhibition is on now and brings together five local makers working across furniture and ceramics.
Ben Tooth presents abstract timber works that respond to the forms of trunks and limbs, shaped by his relationship with the natural environment. Ceramic artist Lisa Lapointe shows refined, meditative pieces that balance colour and form. Furniture maker Robin Clancy contributes chairs that combine traditional joinery with clean, contemporary lines. Jesse Dolman’s ceramic figures introduce a playful, sometimes unsettling energy through exaggerated, handbuilt forms. Yusuf’s own furniture completes the exhibition with restrained, finely crafted pieces designed for everyday use.
“With interest in Bellingen continuing to grow, FOG positions itself as a place to encounter the region’s contemporary making culture up close, as an essential part of the town’s creative life.”