Through the assemblage of found domestic and industrial objects, Martin John Oldfield explores materiality and personal narrative, responding to the unpredictable forces of chance using industrial processes. With over twenty years of experience repairing heavy equipment, his technical practice is grounded in hands-on expertise—tinkering and shed culture are central to a life spent fixing and reimagining things. Oldfield’s works are often laced with absurdity, serving as punchlines that invite reflection, while maintaining a deeper dialogue with material histories and existential themes.

Oldfield was awarded the Foundations Mentorship (with Harrie Fasher) in 2025 and completed a Master of Fine Arts (Sculpture) at the National Art School (Sydney, Australia) in 2024. He holds multiple trade certificates in Heavy Equipment, Heavy Vehicles, and numerous post-trade courses. Oldfield’s work, Hill End Juction #3 is a finalist in the Woolhara Small Sculpture Prize 2025; Stochastic Drawing was a finalist in the Dobell Drawing Prize #23; he won the YawWay sculpture prize in 2020 for his work Dunnage Till Now.

Recent exhibitions include Purple Sky Trains 2025 (Drawspace, Sydney) and Well that was fun…. 2024 (NAS Masters presentation). Oldfield is currently showing his work Rocks in Chair, 2025, at First Draft (Woolloomooloo, Sydney) as part of a group show titled I am not my father. Upcoming exhibitions include Sculpture in the Valley (Kangaroo Valley), New Dates November 15/16 and 22/23, 2025. Martin is excited to be working towards a major installation at Hazelhurst in April 2026 (details to come).

Image: Jessica Maurer