Mary Bronwyn Featherston (born 1943) is an Australian

interior design Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. With a keen eye for detail and a Creativity, creative flair, an ...

er specialising in design of learning environments. The focus of her research and practice is the relationship between young people, learning theory and the design of supportive physical environments in cultural venues and schools. She has collaborated with leading Australian and international educators, architects and policy makers to develop participatory processes and innovative physical environments. Her work has been widely awarded and published. As an activist Mary helped to develop new services for families and children: Community Child Care & Community schools in 1970s, Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange 1994. In 1982 Mary successfully campaigned for establishment of Australia's first Children's Museum in the Museum Victoria. Mary is an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University, in 2020 she was made a member of the Order of Australia. In 1965 Mary formed a life and professional partnership with designer Grant Featherston, they were inaugural inductees into the Design Hall of Fame, they are represented in the collections of several State Galleries and the National Gallery of Australia.

Work

Featherston is most known for her work designing play and learning environments for children. Major projects include the furnishing of the

National Gallery of Victoria The National Gallery of Victoria, popularly known as the NGV, is an art museum in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is Australia's oldest and list of most visited art museums in the world, most visited art mu ...

, establishing the Children's Museum of Victoria in 1985. Featherston was involved in the campaign to establis
Community Child Care
in 1973 and Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange in 1995.

Public collections

, 8 works

Exhibitions

''Design for Life: Grant and Mary Featherston,'' Heide Museum, 30 June 7 October 2018. Curator/s: Kirsty Grant and Denise Whitehouse Currently 8 works of art in the National Gallery of Victoria.

Awards

* Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame in 1996 * Member of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

in 2020

References

External links

The Featherston Archive
*
Legendary designer Mary Featherston: how school classrooms stunt our wondrous natural-born curiosity
' {{DEFAULTSORT:Featherston, Mary Living people 1943 births English emigrants to Australia RMIT University alumni Academic staff of RMIT University 20th-century Australian women artists 20th-century Australian artists 21st-century Australian women artists 21st-century Australian artists Australian interior designers Australian furniture designers Members of the Order of Australia