What’s happening?
Mackay residents are invited to attend HOOKED: The Whimsical World of Caitlin Ramsay, a new exhibition showcasing the work of local artist Caitlin Ramsay.
The exhibition runs from 28 January to 1 March 2026 at the Lagoons Gallery, located at the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.
HOOKED presents a collection of Caitlin’s hand-crafted textile sculptures, created through crochet and inspired by animals and the natural world. Her work brings together creatures of the deep, imagined beings, and familiar backyard life, all formed through yarn.
Why it matters
The exhibition offers a posthumous opportunity to experience Caitlin’s work as a complete and curated body.
Caitlin was a self-taught textile artist who found both comfort and purpose through crochet. Her practice became a way to explore nature, fantasy, and connection during all stages of her life.
The exhibition also highlights the role of creative expression during illness, following Caitlin’s diagnosis with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in 2023.
Local impact
Caitlin grew up in Mackay and remained closely connected to the local community.
During her final months, she spent significant time at the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens, building memories with family and friends.
Her sister and curator, Cassandra Ramsay, said the location held deep meaning.
“During her final months Caitlin spent a lot of time at the Botanic Gardens,” Cassandra said.
“She wanted to fill her days building memories with the people she loved, and the Botanic Gardens Café not only provided her with a connection to nature but served what she described as ‘the best hot chips in Mackay.’”
By the numbers
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Over 10 sculptures will be featured in the exhibition, forming a carefully curated selection of Caitlin’s crochet works.
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Five weeks of public viewing are available, with the exhibition running from 28 January to 1 March 2026.
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One significant milestone month was chosen, as the exhibition coincides with the period that would have marked Caitlin’s 30th birthday.
Zoom in
Caitlin explored self-expression from a young age through photography, digital media, soap and candle sculpting, illustrating, and writing.
In her late teens, she discovered crochet and began transforming yarn into detailed, living forms created with patience and care.
Entirely self-taught, Caitlin started by following patterns before designing her own works. She experimented with texture, colour, and size, allowing each piece to develop its own character.
“Caitlin’s work sparks the imagination of anyone who sees them,” Cassandra said.
“Not just through her interpretations of the world, but in demonstrating the intricate details that can be crafted by hand.”
Zoom out
The exhibition places Caitlin’s work within the Outsider Art movement, which recognises artists who are self-taught and guided by personal vision.
Caitlin continued to crochet throughout her cancer treatment, using the slow and deliberate nature of the craft to maintain calm and balance.
The process of working with yarn, a material that allows no shortcuts or mistakes, reflected her pursuit of patience, care, and beauty.
What to look for next?
HOOKED is a limited-time exhibition and will only be accessible during the café’s opening hours at the Botanic Gardens.
Visitors are encouraged to attend before the exhibition closes on 1 March 2026.
Further information is available HERE
