Artist Dinner
A secret underground dinner where art, florals and design meet – curated around Gary Heery’s work for an intimate, elegant night.
Venue
Gallery Space
Location
Melbourne
The Brief
An investment bank wanted an intimate client entertaining evening that combined dining and art – exceptional, but not over the top. The goal was elegance with a “money can’t buy” feeling: curated, considered, and unmistakably not off the shelf.
We Imagined It
We took our cue from photographer Gary Heery, his work, his gregarious energy, and the distinct worlds across different periods of his practice. The idea was a Melbourne cultural setting and a dining room built as mixed media: a space that didn’t just display Gary’s work, but brought it to life around the guests. Immersive, without theatre for theatre’s sake
We Designed It
We chose a secret, underground venue and treated the guest arrival as a quiet reveal. Guests entered through sheer fabric printed with Gary’s images – an immediate shift from laneway Melbourne into his visual world. Inside, we collaborated with floral artist Hattie Malloy, drawing specifically from Gary’s Bird series. Florals repeated feather-like patterns, and custom-printed menus carried his bird imagery, turning the tablescape into an extension of the artwork. A projected presentation of selected works sat within the room, curated to feel like a living gallery rather than a slideshow.
We Made It Happen
We transformed a blank canvas space into a complete dining environment. Every element was brought in, from furniture, catering equipment, art, production and florals to build a vacant gallery on a Melbourne laneway into a refined, functional event space with cultural weight and hospitality at its core.
What the Room Felt Like
Chic, understated and elegant – warm, hospitable, and quietly confident. Guests felt like they were inside an artwork, with a rare opportunity to connect with Gary as a raconteur: his stories, his presence, and the real life magic of the artist behind the images. The night landed in the details: perfect food, excellent company, and a thoughtful gift on departure.
