Gerry McMahon Sculptor - Exhibition Works & Personal Explorations

Exhibition Works & Personal Explorations

"While much of my work is commissioned for specific sites, I value exhibitions as a space for self-driven exploration. These pieces are opportunities to work without a brief—allowing me to experiment with ambitious forms and new techniques that often push the boundaries of my practice.

These works represent a pure creative process, where the scale and material are chosen entirely by the needs of the piece itself. Many of the concepts developed during these personal projects eventually find their way into my larger public installations, serving as a vital bridge between studio experimentation and the public landscape.

Timepiece

Earmuffs

Push-up Puppet Elephant

Push-up Puppet Elephant | Oversized Toy Study "Inspired by the tactile joy of traditional childhood toys, Push-up Puppet Elephant is a large-scale exploration of scale and nostalgia. Standing 1.3 meters tall, this work is an oversized recreation of a classic push-up puppet, reimagined in painted steel.

The sculpture captures the iconic segmented look of the puppet, using the rigid strength of steel to freeze a moment of playful instability. By elevating a small, ephemeral toy to a substantial sculptural form, the piece invites the viewer to reconnect with a sense of wonder and curiosity. Its vibrant painted finish adds to the 'toy-like' aesthetic, contrasting with its heavy-duty industrial construction." This piece is currently held in the artist's studio. Inquiries regarding acquisition

Push-up Puppet Giraffe

Push-up Puppet Giraffe | Oversized Toy Study "Expanding on the theme of nostalgic play, the Push-up Puppet Giraffe stands at an imposing 1.8 meters tall. This work takes the familiar mechanics of a classic thumb-operated toy and translates them into a large-scale structural form using painted steel.

The height of the giraffe emphasizes the segmented, 'strung-together' aesthetic of the original puppet design. By recreating a delicate toy at nearly two meters in height, the sculpture plays with our perception of weight and balance. The vibrant finish and towering neck make it a bold statement piece that bridges the gap between industrial fabrication and childhood imagination. This piece is currently held in the artist's studio. Inquiries regarding acquisition

On the Count of Three by Gerry McMahon. A series of three large-scale rusted steel sculptures of musicians. Features a Banjo player, Tambourine player, and Flautist. Sculpted in a Rag Doll or Stuffed Puppet style with visible seams and exaggerated forms. Heights range from 1.2 meters to 1.6 meters. Whimsical contemporary metal art available for private sale or exhibition.

On the Count of Three | The Ragtime Trio

"This whimsical series features a Banjo player, Tambourine player, and Flautist captured in a soulful performance. Though constructed from heavy rusted steel, the figures are sculpted in the style of stuffed puppets or rag dolls, creating a playful contrast between the industrial material and their 'soft' appearance.

Standing between 1.2 and 1.6 meters tall, these large-scale musicians bring a vintage, folk-art energy to any space. The earthy, rusted patina emphasizes their textured, stitched aesthetic, making the trio a striking exploration of scale and form.

This series is currently available for acquisition

Bird of Paradise

Wood Screw sculpture by Adelaide artist Gerry McMahon. A large-scale, giant screw carved from Western Red Cedar. Standing 0.6 meters tall. Features detailed threading and a natural wood grain finish. Contemporary woodwork sculpture exploring scale and everyday objects. Available for private sale

Wood Screw | Large-Scale Study "This piece, titled Wood Screw, is a playful exploration of scale and material. Carved from Western Red Cedar, the sculpture stands 0.6 meters high, reimagining a common industrial object as a handcrafted work of art. Currently available for acquisition.

"One Legged Tap Dancer water feature by Adelaide artist Gerry McMahon. A 2.5-meter tall kinetic sculpture made from ceramics, galvanized pipe, river stones, and stainless steel. Features a sand shoe foot, a ceramic tap 'body', and a stainless steel umbrella frame that disperses water. A self-contained reciprocal water fountain with an internal pump.

One Legged Tap Dancer | Kinetic Water Feature "Standing at an impressive 2.5 meters tall, this work is a playful exploration of movement and sound. One Legged Tap Dancer is a fully functional reciprocal water feature, combining industrial galvanized pipe with fine ceramics and organic river stones.

The Cause sculpture by Adelaide artist Gerry McMahon. Finalist in the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize at the South Australian Museum. Features an earth-strata sphere in a precarious balance on a triangular sandstone plinth. Contemporary environmental art exploring the fragility of nature. Mixed media sculpture using natural earth materials.

Hegemony sculpture by Adelaide artist Gerry McMahon. Contemporary metal sculpture featuring four rows of stick figures with chain link heads. Explores themes of mass mentality, conformity, and social hierarchy. Constructed from steel. A conceptual art piece showing figures following one another in a mindless line.

Hegemony | A Study in Conformity "In this conceptual work, Hegemony explores the nature of mass mentality and the loss of individual identity. The sculpture consists of four rows of stylized stick figures, all moving in a singular, unquestioning line.

By using a chain link as the head for each figure, the piece suggests that these individuals are no longer autonomous; they have become part of a larger, rigid structure. Each 'link' is bound to the one before it, following mindlessly in a cycle of social conformity. It is a stark, visual commentary on the power of collective influence and the chains that bind us to traditional hierarchies."

Rain on Me sculpture by Adelaide artist Gerry McMahon. Contemporary metal art featuring a figure under a stainless steel cloud and umbrella. Constructed with stainless steel sheeting and rods to simulate falling rain. Dimensions: 1.6m height by 1.5m length. A whimsical yet contemplative piece exploring isolation and protection. Available for sale.

Rain on Me | A Study in Silver Weather "In Rain on Me, the viewer is presented with a moment of quiet, localized isolation. The sculpture depicts a figure standing under an umbrella, completely engulfed by a private downpour.

Using stainless steel sheeting, I have formed a stylized cloud that hovers above the figure, while a series of stainless steel rods descend to represent the persistent fall of rain. The reflective nature of the steel adds a sense of movement and light, as if catching a break in the storm. Standing 1.6 meters high and stretching 1.5 meters in length, this work captures the feeling of being protected yet surrounded by the elements.

This piece is currently available for sale.

Blue Birds in Blue Tree

2025, galvanised painted steel, solar and lighting

Bluebird in blue trees is a stylization of nature, a shifting from that which is natural into a distorted and simplified design

Blue Birds in Blue Tree

Technology and Nature

2025, Steel and paint. 1500 x 1000 x 1000mm

Technology and Nature

In these times of confusion between reality and artificial intelligence, it’s hard to know what to believe. This sculpture is a commentary between nature, industry and that which is real and which is synthetic and the fragile space we find ourselves in. The two birds represent nature. Cogs and gears are cut into the sides of these bird forms, representing industry. The birds are perched on a shrub-like structure being a reference to "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush".

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