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Merryn and the Wally Birds – Merryn Schriever Director Bonhams Australia

Kellie Leczinksa, Merryn and the Wally Birds - Merryn Schriever Director Bonhams Australia, 2025
Image courtesy of the artist.

Kellie Leczinksa

Merryn and the Wally Birds – Merryn Schriever Director Bonhams Australia 2025

Portrait of Merryn Schriever
Digital photographic print on Platine
79 x 62 cm

About the Artwork

I have always admired my friend Merryn Schriever, the only female director of a fine art auction house in Australia. Merryn’s extensive knowledge of Australian art and ability to build strong relationships with artists and collectors has helped her break the glass ceiling in a male-dominated auction world.

I have photographed Merryn with a rare collection of ceramic ‘Wally Birds’, which had surfaced in Australia. These extraordinary pieces were crafted for a brief period by Martin Brothers Pottery starting in 1870s. At the time, these anthropomorphic yet prehistoric looking birds captured the post-Darwinian thought of the Victorian age. These ceramic oddities gave rise to discussion whether we evolved from animal rather than divine.

With a play on words, these rare birds have been captured together, including a very cranky ‘Wally Bird’ biting Merryn’s finger.

About the Artist

Kellie Leczinska is a Sydney-based multidisciplinary artist working in both photography and painting, with a focus on figurative art. Inspired by a deep appreciation for art history, her work fuses classical motifs with modern interpretations of portraiture.

Kellie’s portraiture transcends likeness through empathetic collaboration, fostering dialogue between sitter and viewer. A strong thread of social commentary runs throughout Kellie’s work, highlighting her subjects’ unique stories and their broader contexts.

Kellie has been a multiple finalist, including the National Photographic Portrait Prize, National Still Life Award, and Percival Portrait Painting Prize. Kellie’s works are held in the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery, and the collection of Sir Elton John and David Furnish, as well as other private and corporate collections in Australia, the UK, and the USA.