Homo Faber is a cultural movement centred on creative artisans. It’s signature projects are education and the presentation of an international biennale.  Homo Faber 2024 takes you on a journey through a human life viewed through the lens of craftsmanship. A series of immersive exhibitions staged across the magnificent spaces of Fondazione Giorgio Cini, the Biennial exhibition includes hundreds of handcrafted objects made by talented artists and craftspeople from all over the world. Homo Faber is presented by the Michaelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, a non-profit institution based in Switzerland.

Invited to participate in the exhibition and present new works as part of a room in the Fondazione Giorgio Cini with the theme LOVE (UNION), Ebony has been commissioned to create an ambitious pair of ceramic urns and pedestals titled Ritual Urn Couple in Pink and Red.

This pair of urns by Ebony Russell was created from layers of hand-piped and stained porcelain in pink with red detailing. Russell is well known for transforming porcelain into gravity-defying artworks, merging decoration and structure to challenge traditional boundaries and connotations historically associated with the medium. These new artworks are an identical pair of large two-handled baluster urns with matching column pedestals constructed from numerous layers of piped porcelain in pastel pink. Applied in places with red bows, ribbons, rosettes and wreaths. The S-shaped handles that widen at the top, are joined at the shoulders and raise just below the rim. The body of the urns has an oval opening on the front that exposes the inside of the urn a red bow and ribbon is revealed inside. The Urns sit upon large columns in matching pastel pink decorated with red bows and swag wreaths at the base and top.

Ebony’s sculpture ‘Suspiciously Beautiful: Rococo Delight Peach and Blue’ (2023) was acquired by Parliament House in late 2023 and is now included in the rotational art collection within the Australian Parliament House Art Collections. This collection comprises works of contemporary Australian art and craft that reflect aspects of Australian culture, character and identity. The Rotational Collection is on display in general circulation areas at Parliament House, in the parliamentarians’ suites, and public exhibitions.

This exquisite and iconic piece by Ebony Russell is currently on display in the Marble Foyer of Parliament House until February 2025 as part of an exhibition showcasing a selection of recent acquisitions from the Parliament House Art Collections. The exhibition features works by artists exploring innovative uses of materials and techniques. The Parliament House Art Collections are nationally significant and include more than 6,500 works of art. The Rotational Collection was established so that works of contemporary art could be displayed throughout the circulation spaces of the building, in the offices and suites of parliamentarians, and in temporary exhibitions such as this one. Now numbering more than 3,500 works, the art in this collection has been selected to reflect aspects of Australian culture, character and identity.