A Forest of Koalas brings together the creativity and environmental passion of Byron Bay Primary School students in a powerful installation of five hundred handmade ceramic koalas. Filling the Lone Goat Gallery, the work transforms the space into a symbolic forest – an expression of care, hope, and action for Australia’s endangered koalas.
Created by students from Kindergarten to Year 6 under the mentorship of local artist Amanda Bromfield and the guidance of teacher Nicky Greenlaw, the project combines artmaking with environmental education. Through learning about koalas, habitat loss, and climate change, students are empowered to see themselves as caretakers and change-makers in their community.
For many children, this is their first experience working with clay – a tactile, expressive, and therapeutic medium that encourages curiosity, experimentation, and confidence. Together, their hundreds of small sculptures form a collective voice, reminding us that every action – no matter how small – can help protect the natural world.
Amanda Bromfield has been creating art for over fifteen years, using clay as a platform for awareness, education, and social and environmental commentary. Her practice blends activism with artistry – using irony, humour, and emotional provocation to challenge perceptions and spark conversation.
Deeply committed to community engagement, Bromfield often collaborates with schools and local groups to create participatory projects that empower people, especially children, to take pride in their creativity and understand their capacity for positive change.
An outspoken environmental advocate, she uses her art to amplify the voices of the voiceless and bring attention to urgent ecological issues. Bromfield believes that young people hold the power to shape a more sustainable and compassionate world. Through education and creative expression, she seeks to ignite their passion for protecting native species and caring for the planet.
Her work reminds us that art can do more than decorate a space – it can inform, inspire, and mobilise communities toward collective action.
This project was supported by Byron Bay Public School and the NSW Department of Education’s Sustainability Team.