An Artful Alphabet brings new life to the letters we know

Published on 28 January 2026

Melbourne artist, Pamela Irving, has taken the humble ABCs and turned them into something wildly unexpected. Her latest exhibition, An Artful Alphabet, is on show at CS Gallery until April, and invites visitors into a world where discarded objects are reborn with wit and wonder.

The exhibition features 26 wall sculptures, each representing a letter of the alphabet. In each piece, Pamela transforms cast‑off toys, dolls, plastic animals and wooden blocks into quirky, figurative characters housed in vintage cigar boxes and biscuit tins. At first glance, they’re playful and kooky, but look closer and you’ll find sharp commentary on our throwaway culture woven into every grin and googly eye.

Designed to delight adults and children alike, the exhibition encourages viewers to guess what each letter represents while reflecting on the contradictions of modern material life. Pamela’s alphabet doesn’t just spell out words. It spells out a challenge to rethink waste, overconsumption, and the creative potential of the everyday.

Despite the serious themes, each piece radiates joy, showing our fast-paced, stuff-filled world as mischievous creations that radiate with a mix of hope, absurdity and wonder.

An award‑winning painter and sculptor, Pamela Irving has exhibited since 1982, with works held in major Australian and international collections.