Media Release
CHLOE HAYDEN CURATES THE POWERHOUSE COLLECTION
Actor and advocate Chloe Hayden brings her personal perspective to Powerhouse this June, as guest curator for Powerhouse Materials, a new series that invites creative voices to explore the Powerhouse Collection through the lens of a single material.
Launching on 28 June, Powerhouse Materials: Textiles is the first instalment in a new program from the museum, with Hayden—best known for her role as Quinni in Heartbreak High—curating a deeply personal and sensory-rich selection of diverse textile objects, from a robot bull used in cattle mustering to brown suede Miu Miu boots worn by acclaimed Australian costume designer Catherine Martin and miniature hand made papier-mâché cows.
Powerhouse Materials: Textiles draws on Hayden’s neurodivergent lived experience and her love of country life, fashion, storytelling and the importance of difference, through touch and texture.
‘Textiles have always helped me make sense of the world,’ Hayden said. ‘They hold memory, they carry feeling. This exhibition is about celebrating the things that make us different—and how we connect through them.’
The exhibition opens with a full day of free programming on Saturday 28 June from 11am–3pm at Powerhouse Castle Hill. Co-curated by Hayden, the event will feature conversations with fellow creatives, a live performance by Heartbreak High co-star Ayesha Madon, behind-the-scenes tours of the museum’s textile store, workshops on how to digitise textiles and a self-guided program that invites visitors of all ages to engage with the Collection and create their own textile work.
The exhibition will also include a broader display of embroidery, knitting, dyeing, weaving and patchwork drawn from the extensive Powerhouse Collection, showcasing the creative and technical richness of textile-making traditions across cultures and eras.
Powerhouse Materials is a new initiative that pairs guest curators with specific materials in the museum’s Collection, offering unique interpretations through creative, cultural and personal lenses.
The series will continue in November 2025 with Powerhouse Materials: Paper, curated by bestselling children’s author Andy Griffiths.
Actor and activist Chloe Hayden said, ‘Every thread tells a story. In curating this exhibition, I’ve chosen objects that speak to my world — and I hope they will spark new ways of seeing the world in others too.’
Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said, ‘With more than 500,000 objects in the Powerhouse Collection, Powerhouse Materials invites new ways of seeing and connecting with materials that shape our lives. We are excited to open this series with Chloe Hayden, whose unique perspective brings fresh insight to the rich stories embedded in textiles.’
Media Contacts
About Powerhouse
Powerhouse sits at the intersection of arts, design, science and technology and plays a critical role in engaging communities with contemporary ideas and issues. We are undertaking a landmark $1.2 billion infrastructure renewal program, spearheaded by the creation of the new museum, Powerhouse Parramatta; expanded research and public facilities at Powerhouse Castle Hill; the renewal of the iconic Powerhouse Ultimo; and the ongoing operation of Sydney Observatory. The museum is custodian to over half a million objects of national and international significance and is considered one of the finest and most diverse collections in Australia. We are also undertaking an expansive digitisation project that will provide new levels of access to the Powerhouse Collection.
About Chloe Hayden
Chloe Hayden is an actor, cowgirl, disability activist and style icon. Diagnosed autistic and ADHD at the age of 13, Chloe started an anonymous blog to share her feelings and find a community. In time, she became a powerful advocate with millions of followers as an openly autistic actress, best known for her role as Quinni in Netflix’s Heartbreak High.
About Ayesha Madon
Ayesha Madon is a singer, songwriter and actor. Born and raised in Sydney, performance in all its forms has always been intrinsic to Ayesha’s life, from learning drums and piano as a teen to her breakout role in the Netflix smash, Heartbreak High. For the rising creative, songwriting and performance remains at the core of all she does with recent releases including Eulogy, Michelle Obama and her latest single Jenga from her forthcoming EP.
About Grace Vegesana
Grace Vegesana is the National Director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, who has been building youth power to end fossil fuel expansion since she was 17. Her legacy includes co-founding the People of Colour Climate Network, pioneering climate justice organising on Dharug Country in Western Sydney with AYCC and mobilising 3000 Australian businesses to join the climate strikes.
About Sam Todd
Sam Todd is a content creator passionate about slow fashion, vintage, and designer brands. Based in Brisbane, she shares her experiences of travel, shopping, and lifestyle content. Her authentic style choices and niche interests have fostered a strong following on TikTok, Youtube and Instagram.