Stephen Hennessy is an artist and creative director of Stephen Hennessy Art & Design Pty Ltd (SHAD); a highly specialized and inventive design and consultancy practice based in Melbourne, Australia.

Stephen’s artworks include sculpture, painting, large-scale architectural glassworks, video and photographic projects. Many works combine aspects of all these media in objects that juxtapose pictorial and sculptural categories and qualities to produce enigmatic installations and small intriguing artworks. He has exhibited in New York and Europe, with works held in major collections including the National Gallery of Victoria. His current artwork is a series of paper sculptures and folded photographs, which take photo and print media from everyday life and turn them into mock-monumental works. Evolving series will regularly be added to the website.

As SHAD, Stephen works from an artistic foundation to bring surprising interpretations to bespoke lighting design, screens and architectural art pieces, both large and small. His strengths as a designer are in the poetic interpretation of a project brief and the ability to bring a luxurious quality to lighting and object making, and the ability to develop and deliver intelligent fully resolved installations.

Managing major public commissions and working closely with architects and interior designers SHAD has, since 1990, successfully designed and/or fabricated many amazing pieces often integral to the architectural space. Key areas of focus are sculptural form and the way materials perform with qualities of light. All works are fully documented by SHAD to be eminently buildable, durable and maintenance friendly.

SHAD studio is currently working through an extensive back catalogue of lighting and fitting design to establish a product range, which highlights the best aspects of his art and architectural work. The SHADLIGHT© range will soon be available for sale online, bespoke orders and commissions continue to be an essential part of the practice.

Note, not all SHAD works are represented on this website, for a full CV including exhibitions and awards download pdf here.

All works & images copyright Stephen Hennessy Art & Design and/or project clients ©