About
Rush Drayton is a sculptor, design engineer and creative technologist who once dressed in shaggy wool coats, crawling into mobs of sheep to better understand what it was like to be part of a herd.
Now, his transdisciplinary practice focuses on ecological inquiry to reestablish coexistence and dissolve boundaries between humans and the natural world. His work dissects umwelt—the sensory worlds of animals—and ecology to better design for our cohabitants. His exploration of interconnectedness, as described by James Bridle, Ed Yong, Keggie Carew, and Heather Barnett, drives his pursuit to foster resilient futures and challenge anthropocentrism.Drayton believes art and design are on the verge of a paradigm shift—moving beyond biomimicry to embrace nonhuman life as collaborators in creating interconnected environments and technologies that benefit all species. Through generations of systemic disconnection, abuse of power, greed, and a misguided sense of 'intelligence,' we have fundamentally corrupted our world. We are no greater than nonhuman life—our survival depends on recognising our shared existence and dismantling the illusion of superiority.
Through accessible and impactful mediums, Drayton’s pursuit is to construct nonhuman sensory systems—making destruction visible, fostering empathy, and dismantling human exceptionalism. In the end, he is still that child in the sheep's costume, searching for connection.
Education
Master of Art - Royal College of Art '26
Master of Science - Imperial College London '26
Selected Press
2024 - Monster Children: Rush Drayton’s Sculptures Make Us Wonder In The Best Way
2024 - Mr Simple: Rush Drayton Artist Feature
2024 - RUSSH Magazine: Meet the artists behind Artclub’s surreal new exhibition Frontiers
Collaborations
2024 Primitive Medium, Apple TV & SBS
2024 Animal Selves, Victor Churchill, Sydney
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024 Animal Selves, Comber Street Studios, Sydney
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025 Adrenaline Junkie, Norman Rea Gallery, York
2025 Good Mourning, Royal College of Art, London
2024 Frontiers - Artclub, Comber Street Studios, Sydney
Awards
2023 Grandfather Hare, Sculpture on the Farm, Finalist
2023 Grandfather Hare, Sculptures in the Garden, Finalist
2023 Couch Potato, Hornsby Art Prize, Finalist
Selected Commissions
2023 Stock Horse, Inglis Bloodstock Consultant, Sydney