b. 1985 in Sydney, Australia
Lives and works in Sydney
Mechelle Bounpraseuth is an artist living and working on unceded Gadigal land, whose practice materialises notions of cultural labour, communion, catharsis, love and grief into tangible objects.
The subject of her sculptures are primarily domestic objects and scenarios — condiments, fruit boxes, quilted pillows, ointment bottles and paraphernalia — which bear witness to the minute reverences of everyday life. They are objects of care which are items of sustenance and comfort, yet also of a generational stuntedness of wanting to feel grief, of wanting to read between the gaps. Behind the tangible forms of her objects lies an uncoiling of quiet, yet understood labour.
She graduated from the National Art School in 2016 and was awarded the Trudie Alfred Bequest Scholarship. She has since been the recipient of the Highly Commended Prize, Woollahra Small Sculpture; Fishers Ghost Prize for Sculpture and the Macquarie Group Emerging Art Prize. Her artworks have been published in Art Almanac, The Art Gallery of NSW’s Look Magazine, Artist Profile, Art and Australia, The Journal of Australian Ceramics and Art Collector. In 2025, Bounpraseuth was the recipient of the $20,000 acquisitive Burwood Art Prize and the Muswellbrook Art Prize. This year, 2026 until 2027 she is presenting a solo exhbition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The exhibition draws on childhood memories and family rituals, the
exhibition places special emphasis on the role of young people in the continuation of culture. Its title, Sou Sou, is a Lao phrase of encouragement meaning ‘you can do it!’ or ‘stay strong!’ When expressed to children, it is often voiced with strength—a steady, heartfelt push to keep going and not lose heart.
Collections her work is collected by include Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; The Parliament House Art Collections; Bendigo Art Gallery Collection, NSW; Many Art Gallery & Museum Collection, Sydney; Ballarat Art Gallery Collection, NSW
Art Bank Collection, Sydney; National Library of Australia, Canberra; NSW State Library, Sydney, New South Wales National Gallery Australia, Canberra; W Hotel, Queensland
