Sydney based sculptor Helena Lillywhite creates evocative works that explore form, light, and shadow through refined, abstracted structures inspired by life and nature. Beginning from recognisable forms, her sculptures evolve into elegant contemporary expressions. Her work is held in public and private collections, including acquisitions by the City of Sydney, and has been exhibited and collected throughout Australia and internationally.
Statement
My work is driven by a search for emotion within form. Whether I’m working in an abstracted way or leaning toward realism, I strive to capture feeling and presence in each piece.
Light, shadow, and the spaces in between intrigue me. I often play with angles and negative space, allowing shifting light to animate and transform my sculptures. This dialogue between solidity and openness creates a sense of movement and depth that I find essential to my practice.
Nature and the forces of nature are at the core of my inspiration. My works may not always represent the literal, but they always echo the rhythms, energy, and spirit of the natural world. Through materials like bronze, sheet metal, ceramic and wood, I aim to express both strength and fragility, grounding my sculptures while letting them evoke memory, energy, and transformation.
Sculpture, for me, is a balance between abstraction and reality, an ongoing exploration of how form, space, and light can hold and express emotion.