Collection: LESLEY WENGEMBO - The Familiar Faces

Throughout our lives, we encounter people who pass through fleetingly or remain for seasons. Some leave behind memories that mark moments in time, while others leave deeper impressions that help shape our identity. These familiar faces—children, family members, friends, colleagues, or even influential figures—become touchpoints in our journey of self-discovery. Whether their impact is positive or challenging, they are part of the evolving tapestry of who we are.

In The Familiar Faces, Papua New Guinean artist Lesley Wengembo presents a powerful visual narrative drawn from his lived experience between 2018 and 2025. The exhibition captures people he has encountered in cities and villages alike—some known intimately, others briefly, and many now nameless. Through his signature painterly technique, Wengembo immortalises these individuals with layered brushstrokes that transform them into recognisable presences. In spending hours, days, and weeks observing and painting each portrait, the artist becomes deeply connected to these faces. Their stories, once transient, are now held in paint and shared with viewers as a celebration of shared humanity.

“We are part of the moment—whether remembered or forgotten, we exist in it,” Wengembo reflects. “And in that moment lies the essence of being human. From remote villages in Papua New Guinea to high-rise cities like Sydney, we share time, space, and connection with both familiar faces and strangers we meet each day.”