To celebrate the release of her 'Queen of all the Wild Things' exhibition at Outback Arts, members of the Coonamble arts community were treated to an artist's talk with Melissa Kelly on Thursday 7 December.

The ninety-five piece exhibition is an exploration of feminist themes from within Melissa's own "deeply personal experiences" which are unpacked in the form of sculpture.

Running from 6 November through to 2 February, the exhibition tells a story of resilience and growth, and of a woman born into a conservative and patriarchal world given a voice through art.

Now based in Gilgandra, Melissa Kelly grew up on a rural property near Gulargambone.

She says she was "raised to be a quiet girl, to obey the patriarch and not question her position."

After her marriage disintegrated into domestic violence, Melissa began a journey which led her to understand not only her own trauma but to recognise misogynist behaviour and the systems in place that control women.

Her story is weaved throughout the exhibition, and is the theme that ties it all together.

One of the pieces on show in Melissa Kelly's exhibition. IMAGE: Outback Arts

Thirteen humanoid figures are the defining feature of Melissa's exhibition, depicting women transforming and growing.

"The figurative works in this exhibition explore women undergoing transformative zoomorphism in ways that express their emotions or in ways that are protective," said Ms Kelly.

"Women defending themselves and can pierce the predatory with antlers, others wear a crown, displaying their inner power and triumph."

"The floral arrangements are for the wildness of nature and a childhood reared on outdoor spaces."

PHOTO: Melissa Kelly shares the stories behind her latest body of work.

The name of the exhibition itself is a direct reference to the popular book and film 'Where the Wild Things Are', adapted to her own story and journey.

"The exhibition turns the story of the little boy with big emotions into a woman who is taming her emotions," she said.

The exhibition is made up of four different groups of ceramic art, the aforementioned 'Figures', along with the 'Singers Vase', 'Urns,' and 'All the Small Things'.

The 'Singers Vase' features twelve vases with iconic female artists pictured on the exterior, ranging from Kylie Minogue and Madonna, to Gwen Stefani and Chrissy Amphlett.

The carved urns are "vessels in which young girlish hopes and dreams are laid to rest, and the body of the urns are the scars we live with moving forward in life."

'All the Small Things' are inspired by natural places and landscapes Melissa loves, and of the magic of creating things for family and friends.