Through the assembly of found domestic and industrial objects, Martin John Oldfield investigates the link between human attributes and mechanical gestures in his work. One sculpture might be a party-going assemblage, drunk and hell-bent on making noise; another might be quietly useless. Twenty years of experience repairing heavy equipment informs his technical approach to making, tinkering, and shed culture, which are central to a life spent fixing things. Oldfield’s assemblages are punctuated with absurdity as punchlines while maintaining a dialogue with material histories and deeper existential narratives.

Martin John Oldfield holds trade certificates in Heavy Equipment, Heavy Vehicles, and numerous post-trade courses. He has maintained a creative practice across multiple disciplines since 1995, when he first enrolled in the National Art School. Oldfield returned to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture) in 2022 and a Master of Fine Arts (Sculpture) in 2024.

Martin’s work, Stochastic Drawing, was a finalist in the Dobell Drawing Prize #23. He won the YawWay sculpture prize for his work, Dunnage Till Now 2020. His most recent solo exhibition was at DRAW Space and Purple Sky Trains 2025, Sydney (curated by Gary Warner).

Image: Jessica Maurer