SANDERSON Returns to Sydney
Image credit: Portrait of Sanderson Contemporary Team.
After a five-year absence, Sanderson is set to return to Sydney Contemporary this September, marking the gallery’s first presentation at the fair under the ownership of director Lydia Cowpertwait.
Founded over twenty years ago, Sanderson has built its reputation in Tāmaki Makaurau/ Auckland on a careful balance: championing established voices while nurturing the next generation of artists. That balance will be on full display in Sydney, with a line-up featuring sculptor Ray Haydon, light-based artist Kāryn Taylor, ecological photographer Kate van der Drift, and emerging abstract painter Loren Marks. Each brings a distinct practice, yet together they articulate the gallery’s broader ethos of combining craftsmanship with strong conceptual grounding.
For Cowpertwait, returning to Sydney Contemporary is not only about reconnecting with familiar Australian collectors but also about expanding horizons. With Art Assembly now directing both the Aotearoa Art Fair and Sydney Contemporary, she sees an exciting bridge forming across the Tasman – one that Sanderson intends to be part of.
Vault’s Editor in Chief Alison Kubler sits down with Cowpertwait to get a sneak peek at their Sydney Contemporary program.
Image credit: Kāryn Taylor Exhibition at Sanderson Contemporary.
What excites you most personally about presenting SANDERSON at Sydney Contemporary?
Sanderson last presented at Sydney Contemporary in 2019, before the Pandemic, so it’s exciting to see the gallery returning to the fair after that time. We’re returning under my new ownership so that feels different and significant for me. Sydney Contemporary is Australasia’s biggest art fair so it’s a privilege to be going. We want to showcase how we’re operating now and the overall direction the gallery is moving in.
In such a diverse mix of galleries, what do you believe makes SANDERSON – and you as a gallerist – stand out?
A core part of our values is to support artists who show a level of craftmanship, as well as a strong conceptual foundation in their work. So, I hope this will be evident with the artists and artworks we are presenting. As a young (ish) gallerist, I’m always aiming to keep things fresh and interesting whilst showing reverence to the gallery’s twenty-year history and heritage. Our artists’ practices are really unique, and I don’t think you can find works like theirs anywhere else, so I think this will make for an interesting showcase at the fair.
Image credit: Kate van der Drift, Waxing Gibbous to Waning Cresent, June I, 2022, Pigment Print from 4x5 Negative, 1400 x 1811 mm. Courtesy of the artist and Sanderson Contemporary..
Which of your artists are you most excited to showcase at the fair, and what makes them feel especially relevant for this moment?
We’re presenting four artists at the fair - Kate van der Drift, Ray Haydon, Loren Marks and Kāryn Taylor. I’m excited about all four of them. Each one has such a distinct way of working that feels very contemporary. Some of the artists already have significant followings in Australia, like Kāryn Taylor, whilst others will be new to the Sydney Contemporary audience. Kate van der Drift explores the ecological complexities of the waterways in New Zealand, and Ray Haydon is a revered sculptor who explores form and movement in beautiful ways. Loren Marks is an exciting up and coming abstract painter whose works have unusual figurative elements. Kāryn Taylor’s light boxes are mesmerizing and dynamic works that look at the unknowns of the universe.
How do you go about making those tough decisions on which works to bring – is it instinct, strategy, or a combination of both?
Definitely a combination of both. We try to do a rotation, so each artist gets to experience being at an art fair every few years. We also need to consider how the works will hang together in the stand and how the presentation represents the gallery, both on a national and international scale. We rarely do solo booths as we like to present group shows that show the breadth of the artists the gallery represents. We make sure the stand is curated and considered from that perspective.
Image credit: Ray Haydon, Flex V, 2025, carbon fibre, marine grade pleather, 1520 x 400 x 180 mm. Courtesy of the artist and Sanderson Contemporary.
What do you hope visitors walking into your booth will feel or take away after engaging with your display?
We wanted to bring works to the fair that we felt would appeal to the Sydney Contemporary audience – pieces that are vibrant, inspiring and moving to engage with. I hope visitors will feel they have experienced that after being at our stand. Some of the pieces are unique to New Zealand, which I feel makes them special and interesting to an international audience.
How do you find the right balance between highlighting the established artists you represent and giving space to emerging voices?
A significant part of Sanderson’s identity is supporting emerging artists, as well as more established practitioners in Aotearoa; we always consider this when curating our fair presentations and exhibition programme. This year, we are presenting Loren Marks at Sydney Contemporary. Marks is an exciting emerging painter who was the recipient of the Whitecliffe College of Art and Design top student award and the George Pearce first year arts scholarship in Aotearoa. Marks is currently completing a CSP-funded Master of Fine Arts degree at Victoria University in Naarm, Melbourne. This is a merit-based funded place where the only artists that get chosen are leading in their field.
Image credit: Kāryn Taylor, Fuzzy logic, 2022, cast acrylic, Unique work, 800 x 800 mm. Courtesy of the artist and Sanderson Contemporary.
What role do you see Sydney Contemporary playing in shaping how collectors discover and connect with your artists’ work?
Sydney Contemporary attracts a broad range of collectors from Australasia and further afield, so we know it’s a great platform for showcasing our artists’ works and introducing a broader audience to what they make. We have seen an increase in Australian collectors coming through to the Aotearoa Art Fair, with Art Assembly’s new ownership. I think Art Assembly running both the Aotearoa Art Fair and Sydney Contemporary will create a bigger bridge between the two nations in terms of a collector base, and also galleries showcasing either side.
Do you see this fair more as an opportunity to meet new collectors or to strengthen existing relationships?
We already have a strong collector base in Australia, so we are looking forward to seeing familiar faces over there. However, we know that Sydney Contemporary attracts a wide range of collectors from all over the world, so we are also looking forward to connecting with lots of new clients too.
Image credit: Loren Marks, Clouds In Your Eyes, 2024, oil on canvas, 550 x 600 mm. Courtesy of the artist and Sanderson Contemporary.
Do you find art fairs more energising, more exhausting, or a strange mix of both – and why?
Definitely a mixture of both. It’s an intense energy with so many people from the industry and a huge number of collectors all in one place. Art fairs take a lot out of me but I really enjoy them as well because it’s this wonderful concentration and celebration of what we do.
How do you hope this Sydney Contemporary experience will influence the direction of SANDERSON in the year ahead?
I hope that taking Sanderson back to Sydney Contemporary will broaden the gallery’s horizons in terms of outreach and programming. It will be great to see where new connections lead us. If all goes well, I would love to make Sydney Contemporary a regular on the gallery’s calendar.
SANDERSON will present works by Ray Haydon, Kāryn Taylor, Kate van der Drift, and Loren Marks at Sydney Contemporary, Carriageworks, Gadigal Country/Sydney, September 11 to 14, 2025. Visit them at Booth I07 or explore the full program at sydneycontemporary.com.au
