From the Fish Shop and Beyond – Sculptures by Robert Liston
Published on 20 August 2026
Maryborough artist Robert Liston presents a captivating new exhibition featuring imaginative robot characters and whimsical fish sculptures crafted from recycled materials.
The opening of From the Fish Shop and Beyond – Sculptures by Robert Liston will be held at 2pm on Saturday 22 August 2026 at Central Goldfields Art Gallery in Maryborough, and everyone is welcome to attend.
Robert Liston lives in Maryborough and enjoys tinkering in his studio, drawing inspiration from the objects he finds and collects to create fantastical fish and robot sculptures. Often humorous or philosophical, his works explore and parody aspects of the human condition.
During COVID-19 lockdowns, Robert established a studio he affectionately named the “Fish Shop", a light-hearted response to the restrictions that prevented people from going fishing.
The fish and robots featured in this exhibition are created from recycled materials, transforming discarded objects destined for landfill into works of humour, imagination and beauty.
Robert’s artistic journey began at Maryborough Technical College, where teachers Phil and Beth Davies encouraged his creativity and fostered a lifelong appreciation for the arts. They frequently welcomed Robert and his girlfriend, Marie, into their home, where conversations over tea and listening to Dylan Thomas’s Under Milkwood left a lasting impression. Another significant influence was George Barber, a History and Geography teacher, educator, community advocate and founding member of Wattle House, now known as Asteria.
Robert studied Art at RMIT alongside fellow students from Maryborough, Terry Doyle, Doug Blair and Neil McMasters. Although he left before completing his final year, his creative interests remained. With limited opportunities in the advertising industry, Robert built a successful career in commercial and industrial lighting, working as a project manager.
For more than 25 years, Robert worked as the company’s estimator, preparing quotations for multi-million dollars lighting projects - a far cry from the creative world of the arts. He went on to marry his childhood sweetheart, Marie, purchase a home, raise two children, painting when time allowed, travelled throughout outback Australia and visited the United Kingdom on many occasions.
Retirement provided more free time. After visiting the 2019 Swan-pool Creative Scrap Art Exhibition, he realised a lifetime of renovating and collecting leftover bits and pieces had created a wealth of creative possibilities. Junk that was destined for the tip could be recycled, upcycled and repurposed to create an object of beauty. Inspired by the possibilities of recycled materials, he entered the Swanpool Scrap Art exhibition in 2020 and 2021, only for the event to be cancelled on both occasions due to Covid-19 lockdowns.
Artists Charles Blackman, Arthur Boyd, Fred Williams and later Matt Dixon and Fitchen Foo have been a great influence on his work. Robert and Marie moved back to Maryborough in 2023 and set up a new Fish Shop (Studio). He entered the 2024 Community Art Exhibition and was fortunate enough to win the People’s Choice Award with his Flying Toaster.
Reflecting on his work, Robert said: “Over the last two years, my work has slowly evolved from the School of Fish and the Flying Toaster to Robots. I have found on my life’s journey, my art has been a life saver, getting lost in time, escaping into the world of fantasy.”
Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Cr Ben Green said Robert Liston has creatively assembled and repurposed all sorts of gadgets and scraps to form some amazing sculptures.
“His work celebrates uniqueness, humour and the human condition.”
From the Fish Shop and Beyond – Sculptures by Robert Liston will remain on exhibition at Central Goldfields Art Gallery until 8 November, 2026.