Spectra at Rydges Melbourne

Spectra: Reimagining interiors through art and design. Rowena Martinich & Geoffrey Carran at Rydges Melbourne.

Rydges Melbourne is proud to present Spectra, an immersive exhibition redefining the intersection of art and design, as part of Melbourne Design Week 2025. This groundbreaking showcase, featuring acclaimed artists Rowena Martinich and Geoffrey Carran, transforms the hotel lobby into a vibrant and dynamic living art space, offering a fresh perspective on how fine art can enhance and radically alter interior environments.

“Melbourne Design Week is a fabulous opportunity to open our doors to both our guests and the wider public,” says Lee Davey, General Manager of Rydges Melbourne. “Spectra is a vibrant celebration of creativity that transforms our lobby into a living, breathing work of art. Collaborating with artists like Rowena Martinich and Geoffrey Carran allows us to elevate the guest experience in a truly unexpected way. At Rydges Melbourne, we’re committed to supporting the arts and creating spaces that inspire, and this installation is a perfect reflection of that vision.”

Spectra is not only an art exhibition but a manifestation of how artists can collaborate with interior spaces to create more than just functional designs. The exhibit features a series of bespoke artist-designed carpets in partnership with GH Commercial, as well as custom-designed wallpaper, large-scale paintings, a dynamic window installation, and limited-edition prints—all of which showcase Martinich and Carran’s signature bold colors and expressive, abstract forms.

A Bold Artistic Leap
Known for their expansive public artworks, murals, and large-scale spatial activations, Martinich and Carran have previously transformed urban landscapes both locally and internationally. From murals in public spaces to installations for major brands like Dulux and Nike, their work pushes the boundaries of artistic collaboration with interior environments. Spectra represents an exciting new chapter for the duo, expanding their artistic practices beyond the canvas into the realm of interior design.

“Collaborating with Rowena Martinich and Geoffrey Carran on this project has been an absolute joy,” says Abby Peach, Brand Manager at GH Commercial. “Translating Rowena’s dynamic, expressive art onto carpet has been truly inspiring. Each vibrant color, fluid stroke, and speckle of paint has come to life underfoot, and seeing artwork of this scale and energy on the floor is nothing short of spectacular.”

The bespoke carpets featured in Spectra were made possible through GH Commercial’s Designer Jet® technology, a world-class custom carpet technology that can create an infinite array of colours and bespoke designs. “Designer Jet® technology has allowed us to translate these large-scale, dynamic paintings into intricate, textural floor pieces,” explains Peach. “This technology uses precision engineering to inject dye into the carpet, offering a flexible, creative, and performance-driven solution for projects of any size. It’s been incredible to see how a simple idea can be translated into such vibrant, functional art.”

Supporting Local and Sustainable Design
Based in Geelong, GH Commercial’s local manufacturing capabilities, sustainable practices, and flexible production methods have made this collaboration possible. The partnership has allowed for the creation of limited runs and one-off pieces, expanding the creative potential of the artists' works. Local printers Tiger Corp also played a key role, producing the exhibition’s bespoke wallpaper and glass-based vinyl installations, further supporting sustainable, regional production models.

“Working with local partners has been integral to this project,” says Martinich. “It has enabled a seamless exchange between artist and maker, while supporting a regional and sustainable production model. This exhibition extends our practice into the interiors space, bringing our artistic vision to new and exciting possibilities.”

A Celebration of Artistic Vision and Environmental Connection
For Martinich and Carran, the Spectra exhibition is deeply rooted in their connection to the Surf Coast landscape. Based on Wadawurrung Country, the colours of the bushland, coastal light, and earthy tones of the area are a constant source of inspiration in their work. This exhibition celebrates that connection, showcasing how art can transform spaces and connect people to their environments.

“We’re excited to showcase our work in this immersive format,” says Carran. “It’s a chance to show how art can inhabit space in new and unexpected ways, making it an integral part of the built environment.”

Spectra is not just a visual experience—it’s a sensory journey that invites viewers to explore the intersection of fine art and interior design. The installation offers a bold artist-led vision that goes beyond traditional design, using colour, movement, and emotion to transform functional spaces into living art pieces.

Exhibition Launch + Artist Talk
Spectra launched during Melbourne Design Week 2025 with a live conversation between Rowena Martinich and Geoffrey Carran, hosted by Bree Banfield and Lauren Li of the Design Anatomy podcast.

The discussion opened up the thinking behind the exhibition, exploring collaboration, scale, materiality and the possibilities that emerge when painting extends beyond the canvas into interiors, architecture and design. It offered a deeper look into the artists’ process and the evolving relationship between fine art and spatial experience.

Photography: Armelle Habib