Full house ‘I Ain't No Fancy Bird’
Maya Tamang's solo exhibition opened at Jump Left on Thursday 23 July, and what a night it was.
Maya Tamang at the opening of her first solo exhibition at Jump Left.
Image: Astrid Mulder
More than 200 guests packed into the Jump Left gallery at Donkey Wheel House to celebrate the launch of I Ain't No Fancy Bird, Maya Tamang's exhibition of bold, deeply felt portraits drawn from her love of classic Hollywood, camp humour and unapologetic personal flair.
The energy in the room matched the work on the walls. We were thrilled to welcome a special guest appearance from The Huxleys, whose glamour and theatricality felt like a perfect fit for Maya's show, and a stunning performance from mezzo soprano Dimity Shepherd, who filled the space with something quite extraordinary. Guests, friends, family, artists, supporters and first-time visitors came together to raise a glass to Maya.
Several works found new homes on the night, which is a wonderful outcome for an early-career artist and a real vote of confidence in Maya's practice. Watching people connect with the paintings — pointing out favourites, coming back for another look, and then deciding to take one home — is exactly what this exhibition set out to do.
As Maya has said, her hope was that “people would feel inspired by and connected to her work”. Judging by the crowd on Thursday night, that landed.
Thank you to everyone who came, to the artists and performers who made the evening so memorable, and to Donkey Wheel House and Impact Neighbourhoods for making this project possible. Congratulations, Maya. This is a significant moment in your career and we're proud to have supported and hosted it.
This exhibition was made possible with support from Donkey Wheel House.
Guests, friends, family, artists, supporters and first-time visitors came together to raise a glass to Maya.
See the exhibition
I Ain't No Fancy Bird is on show until 29 August 2026.
Jump Left Ground Floor, 673 Bourke Street, Naarm/Melbourne VIC 3000 (Donkey Wheel House)
Hours: Tuesday to Friday 11am–4pm, Saturday 11am–3pm, or by appointment Admission: Free | All welcome
Access: Accessible venue | Quiet space available | Easy Read materials provided
Works are available for purchase.
For enquiries: Contact info@jumpleft.com.au or 0437 448 758.