Benjamin Gallagher, Compression of a Trade, 2022, hardwood, lead, welsh slate, wool underlay, copper, bitumen, steel, oregon, leather, salvaged iron casting and hand forged clouts, 52 x 26.5 x 54 cm, photo: Alex McIntyre Photography

Array ( [image] => Array ( [ID] => 53508 [id] => 53508 [title] => Benjamin Gallagher, Compression of a Trade, 2022, hardwood, lead, welsh slate, wool underlay, copper, bitumen, steel, oregon, leather, salvaged iron casting and hand forged clouts, 52 x 26.5 x 54 cm, photo: Alex McIntyre Photography [filename] => BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679.jpg [filesize] => 219674 [url] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679.jpg [link] => https://mrag.org.au/exhibition/the-wooden-city/bengallagher_onlythepigeons_1124/ [alt] => Benjamin Gallagher, Compression of a Trade, 2022, hardwood, lead, welsh slate, wool underlay, copper, bitumen, steel, oregon, leather, salvaged iron casting and hand forged clouts, 52 x 26.5 x 54 cm, photo: Alex McIntyre Photography [author] => 13 [description] => [caption] => Benjamin Gallagher, Compression of a Trade, 2022, hardwood, lead, welsh slate, wool underlay, copper, bitumen, steel, oregon, leather, salvaged iron casting and hand forged clouts, 52 x 26.5 x 54 cm, photo: Alex McIntyre Photography [name] => bengallagher_onlythepigeons_1124 [status] => inherit [uploaded_to] => 53507 [date] => 2024-12-18 06:06:38 [modified] => 2024-12-18 06:06:56 [menu_order] => 0 [mime_type] => image/jpeg [type] => image [subtype] => jpeg [icon] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-includes/images/media/default.png [width] => 1297 [height] => 1638 [sizes] => Array ( [thumbnail] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-150x150.jpg [thumbnail-width] => 150 [thumbnail-height] => 150 [medium] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-301x380.jpg [medium-width] => 301 [medium-height] => 380 [medium_large] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-768x970.jpg [medium_large-width] => 768 [medium_large-height] => 970 [large] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-800x800.jpg [large-width] => 800 [large-height] => 800 [1536x1536] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-1216x1536.jpg [1536x1536-width] => 1216 [1536x1536-height] => 1536 [2048x2048] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-1365x2048.jpg [2048x2048-width] => 1365 [2048x2048-height] => 2048 [carousel] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-534x675.jpg [carousel-width] => 534 [carousel-height] => 675 [landing_tile] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-800x270.jpg [landing_tile-width] => 800 [landing_tile-height] => 270 [list_tile] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-500x350.jpg [list_tile-width] => 500 [list_tile-height] => 350 [banner] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-1267x1600.jpg [banner-width] => 1267 [banner-height] => 1600 ) ) [image_f] => Array ( [id] => 53508 [focus_point] => Array ( [class] => js-focus-point-image [top] => 0.29 [left] => 0.45 [right] => 0.56 [bottom] => 0.35 ) [alt] => Benjamin Gallagher, Compression of a Trade, 2022, hardwood, lead, welsh slate, wool underlay, copper, bitumen, steel, oregon, leather, salvaged iron casting and hand forged clouts, 52 x 26.5 x 54 cm, photo: Alex McIntyre Photography [title] => Benjamin Gallagher, Compression of a Trade, 2022, hardwood, lead, welsh slate, wool underlay, copper, bitumen, steel, oregon, leather, salvaged iron casting and hand forged clouts, 52 x 26.5 x 54 cm, photo: Alex McIntyre Photography [caption] => Benjamin Gallagher, Compression of a Trade, 2022, hardwood, lead, welsh slate, wool underlay, copper, bitumen, steel, oregon, leather, salvaged iron casting and hand forged clouts, 52 x 26.5 x 54 cm, photo: Alex McIntyre Photography [description] => [mime_type] => image/jpeg [url] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679.jpg [width] => 1297 [height] => 1638 [sizes] => Array ( [thumbnail] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-150x150.jpg [thumbnail-width] => 150 [thumbnail-height] => 150 [medium] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-301x380.jpg [medium-width] => 301 [medium-height] => 380 [medium_large] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-768x970.jpg [medium_large-width] => 768 [medium_large-height] => 970 [large] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-800x800.jpg [large-width] => 800 [large-height] => 800 [1536x1536] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-1216x1536.jpg [1536x1536-width] => 1216 [1536x1536-height] => 1536 [2048x2048] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-1365x2048.jpg [2048x2048-width] => 1365 [2048x2048-height] => 2048 [carousel] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-534x675.jpg [carousel-width] => 534 [carousel-height] => 675 [landing_tile] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-800x270.jpg [landing_tile-width] => 800 [landing_tile-height] => 270 [list_tile] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-500x350.jpg [list_tile-width] => 500 [list_tile-height] => 350 [banner] => https://mrag.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BenGallagher_OnlyThePigeons_1124-scaled-e1734916517679-1267x1600.jpg [banner-width] => 1267 [banner-height] => 1600 ) ) [caption] => Benjamin Gallagher, Compression of a Trade, 2022, hardwood, lead, welsh slate, wool underlay, copper, bitumen, steel, oregon, leather, salvaged iron casting and hand forged clouts, 52 x 26.5 x 54 cm, photo: Alex McIntyre Photography )

THE WOODEN CITY

BENJAMIN GALLAGHER

November 8 2025 — March 1 2026

In The Wooden City, Benjamin Gallagher presents highly laboured, beautifully constructed forms that focus on his own observations of the buildings we inhabit. His studies in architecture and industrial design play alongside his decades long experience working with his father as a heritage tradesman, mostly in the highly skilled restoration of slate roofs, many of those in Maitland.

“ I analyse buildings, both old and new. Be they serious and considered or rustic and humble, I find intrigue in the process of their construction, the decisions made on their behalf, on behalf of the culture they inhabit. Studies in architecture and industrial design set against my working life as a heritage roof slater and copper-smith have enabled me a unique perspective. The charm and romanticism of a
Victorian handrail captivates me in equal measure to the formfinish surface a brutalist wall. ”
– BENJAMIN GALLAGHER