Sunday 18 May
1pm — 4pm
Mercator Building
FREE — Bookings required for guided tours.
Mercator Makers is part of Melbourne Design Week 2025
Mercator Makers takes you inside the Abbotsford Convent to meet the diverse creative makers that reside behind the doors of the historic Mercator building.
Take a glimpse into the creative worlds of object maker Eugenie Kawabata, Jeweller Katheryn Leopoldseder, fashion designer Jack Hancock of The System, ceramicists Illona Topolcsanyi and Colin Hopkins of Melbourne Clay, stencil artist Ralf Kempken and artist, David Booth (Ghostpatrol), for conversations about their creative practice, inspirations and processes.
Visitors to the Mercator Building are welcome to join one of the scheduled tours or casually wander the building to have a look into the open studios of the Mercator Makers and the creative community here.
The tours are free but bookings are essential as space is limited. Get in quickly as you’ll get a bag of goodies at the end of the tour.
The day will conclude with joining the Mercator Makers on the lawn for an informal chat and a glass of wine.
Eugenie Kawabata is an award winning designer/maker working at the intersection of art and design. She produces one-off sculptural vessels from textile and industrial waste. Her work has been collected in both Australia and internationally.
Katheryn Leopoldseder is an internationally recognised contemporary jeweller, artist and designer. She produces limited-edition handmade jewellery pieces, unique private commissions as well as large-scale objets d’art. Her work has been collected in both Australia and internationally.
Ralf Kempken is an award winning stencil artist. His stencil artwork ranges from canvases to large scale site specific buildings and streetscapes. His distinctive site specific public art screen installations can be seen in Melbourne and interstate.
The System, is Jack Hancock’s collaborative design space, fashion brand, bespoke clothing atelier and sewing school. As a multi-functional arts space. The System privileges functional, intelligent clothing that facilitates the realisation of individuals’ authentic expression.
Melbourne Clay is a recognised Melbourne ceramics hub specializing in hospitality and architectural designs. Their practice includes offering their expertise in the areas of training and resources, functioning as a collaborative platform for makers and professionals alike to excel and innovate in their practice.
Ghostpatrol is David Booth, a well-known Melbourne based artist. His works have been exhibited here and internationally. His practice is split across urban-based works, including murals, temporary sculptures and installations. Booth’s role often shifts between that of a contemporary artist, commercial designer, mural painter and artistic collaborator.
