Inside Mortal Reflections: Sam Jinks Live at QVMAG

One day only. One final conversation.

As Sam Jinks || Mortal Reflections closes, join us for an unmissable opportunity to hear directly from one of Australia’s most compelling contemporary artists – live, in person, and in conversation.

In this special closing event, Sam Jinks is joined by Dr Kellie Wells, Lead Curator at QVMAG, for an intimate and unscripted discussion reflecting on his practice, his time in Tasmania, and the making of his major commission for QVMAG – Eternal Return, the monumental three-metre hyperreal spider that has become an unforgettable centrepiece of the exhibition.

This is not a standard artist talk. There are no pre-set questions. No fixed script.

Instead, the conversation is shaped by the room.

Audience members are invited to submit questions on the day – which will be gathered, mixed, and drawn at random in a ‘lucky dip’ format. What gets asked – and what gets answered – is part of the experience.

Expect insight, honesty, and moments of surprise as Sam responds live, offering a rare window into the ideas, processes, and decisions behind his work.

Taking place on the final day of Mortal Reflections, this event is both a closing celebration and your last chance to experience the exhibition – the most extensive presentation of Sam Jinks’ work to date – before it leaves QVMAG.

Whether you are returning for a final visit or seeing the exhibition for the first time, this is a unique opportunity to connect more deeply with the work and hear from the artist behind it.

Seats are limited.

This event will not be repeated.

Sam Jinks (b. 1973, Bendigo, Australia) is a Melbourne-based sculptor renowned for his hyperrealist figures that explore the fragility and complexity of the human condition. Working primarily with silicone, resin, fibreglass, and human hair, Jinks crafts sculptures that evoke profound emotional responses, often depicting moments of vulnerability and intimacy. His work delves into themes of life, death, and the passage of time, drawing inspiration from mythology, religious iconography, and personal experiences.

Jinks began his career in the film and television industry, creating prosthetics and special effects, which honed his skills in lifelike representation. Transitioning to fine art, he has since exhibited internationally, with notable shows at the Benaki Museum in Athens, the National Gallery of Australia, and participation in the 55th Venice Biennale. His sculptures are held in esteemed collections, including the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in India and the Museo Escultura Figurativa Internacional Contemporánea in Portugal.

Through his meticulous craftsmanship and poignant subject matter, Sam Jinks invites viewers to reflect on the ephemeral nature of existence and the shared experiences that define humanity.

Step into the imagined world of Sam Jinks, one of Australia's most prominent contemporary sculptural artists.

Renowned for his painstakingly crafted figures, Jinks’ practice reflects upon deeply felt moments of our lived experience.

Imbued with unguarded emotion and raw vulnerability, this unique presentation is one artist’s invitation to reflect on the mysteries of: life || death, and all in-between.

Sam Jinks || Mortal Reflections
Art Gallery at Royal Park | 2 Wellington St, Launceston
Closing 4pm, Sunday 10 May 2026
Free entry | Open 10am-4pm daily

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher QVMAG