Mike Hewson is an Aotearoa-born, Sydney-based visual artist, whose practice is informed by a background in structural engineering and heavy-civil construction. This unique foundation shapes his approach to art, combining technical understanding with conceptual ambition to explore the relationship between materials, structures and the public realm. His award-winning projects pioneer new ways of merging conceptual art projects with public environments, challenging traditional boundaries between art, architecture and civic space.

Working across sculpture, installation and large-scale interventions, Hewson explores the possibilities that emerge when established systems and limitations are reconsidered. His practice is driven by a belief that ideas often considered untenable within public settings can, in fact, be realised through creative thinking, collaboration and persistence. By transforming materials, spaces and expectations, his work demonstrates the potential for new possibilities within existing frameworks.

Each project aims to catalyse fresh conversations about how the bureaucratic and managerial aspects of power shape our public lives, questioning whether we accept these structures as they are or whether we might explore freer alternatives. Through an ongoing investigation of place, material and collective experience, Hewson’s work invites audiences to reconsider the systems that influence their surroundings, revealing new ways of engaging with the environments they inhabit. His practice ultimately reflects a belief in the power of art to challenge assumptions, expand possibilities and reshape our understanding of public space.