THE VOID: MELISSA SANDY TURNS GRIEF INTO ART

By Marli Ryan

Pilbara artist Melissa Sandy has opened her first solo exhibition, The Void, a deeply personal body of work shaped by grief, family and country.

Ms Sandy, an Indigenous woman from Roebourne in the Pilbara, created the exhibition in honour of her late mum, Aileen. What began as a way to cope with loss has grown into a space for reflection, healing and connection.

When asked how the exhibition came to be, Ms Sandy responded honestly.

She said, “It was all the pain I was feeling after losing her. I couldn't really process it in any other way except through my art.”

The exhibition traces that shift in grief, from raw heartbreak to something gentler.

“Before I used to think about her and I used to sit down and have a cry and think about what she's missing, but now I can just smile and just remember the good times and the good things about her.”

Ms Sandy spoke about the exhibition's title and its meaning.

“The Void, it's simple. It's The Void she's left in our hearts and in our lives.”

Returning to Jirriya (Mount Florence), where her mother grew up, was a turning point in the process. Sandy described it as emotional and grounding, a full-circle moment shared with family as they spoke about childhood memories and loved ones who have passed.

Family has remained central to the exhibition. Although it is a solo show, Sandy sought permission from family members to include her mum's artwork in the exhibition, as well as the documentary that will accompany it.

When asked about what she hopes others carry with them after seeing the exhibition, she said,

“I just hope that it leaves an impact on their lives and it kind of helps them through their losses as well because everyone's lost someone that they love.”

Ms Sandy is also committed to bringing the exhibition home. She plans to show a smaller version in Roebourne, so community members who cannot attend the opening can experience it on country.

For Ms Sandy, The Void is not just about loss. It is about carrying love forward through paint, memory and family.