Tall Poppy Curated by Tiffany Jade

Tall Poppy, curated by Tiffany Jade and presented by Kelli Lundberg Art, is a landmark exhibition of works that anchor Melbourne within the global design geography.

Positioned as an exhibition of works that anchor Melbourne/Naarm within the global design geography, Tall Poppy is more than a showcase of design – it’s a statement about where Australian design stands today and where it’s heading. The exhibition marks a first for the Mornington Peninsula, establishing a precedent for regional design excellence.

This celebration spotlights Australian and Melbourne designers who are breaking beyond the glass ceiling while remaining connected to centuries-old traditions. It also reflects an emerging era of Australian design: one defined by accessibility, collaboration and feasibility.

For too long, many designers reached a certain point in their practice only to be forced offshore to Europe or Asia, where their work could flourish without the constraints of economic pressures, limited access to ancillary practices, prohibitive lead times and Tall Poppy Syndrome. The exhibition reflects a shift towards creating conditions for designers to remain, develop and lead locally.

The exhibition runs in conjunction with the gallery schedule from 29 April to 7 June 2026. It will also be visible online here.

Vernissage — 9 May 2026, 4 – 6pm

The opening of Tall Poppy will be everything a vernissage should be, and something it rarely is.

Held within the gallery as the Peninsula afternoon softens into evening — green hills, majestic gums, and that endless quality of sky that belongs only to this part of the world — the night unfolds among the furniture, lighting, objects and artworks of fifteen of Australia’s most compelling designers.

Cocktails crafted for the occasion by Jakob Etzold in collaboration with Tar Barrel Distillery. Food, conversation, and at the grand piano, live music — accompanied by the warm, unhurried vocals of jazz singer Miss George.

All are welcome. Come for the work. Stay for what happens when the right people gather around it.