Old puzzles, cigar boxes and even a broken rocking horse have been transformed into art by Ballina artist Dean Stewart in his latest exhibition at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery.

Stewart’s exhibition TRANS/FORM opened on March 5 and runs until April 26, showcasing a series of assemblage works created from discarded and found objects.

The Ballina-based artist said his work focuses on taking everyday items apart and reimagining them into something entirely new.

“I’ve been drawn to assemblages,” Stewart said.

“I’ve explored painting and drawing, but pulling pieces together, taking them apart and reassembling them as a new image really tells the story of what the items were before.”

Stewart studied at the Byron School of Art and has previously exhibited at venues including the Tweed Regional Gallery.

Before turning to art full time, he worked as an interior designer — a background that still influences his creative process.

“I’ve got that graphic feel to my work,” he said.

“I feel like I’m drawing from architectural drawing, from my interior design as well as painting. You get those different perspectives and shapes coming together.”

Many of Stewart’s works begin with objects that others might throw away.

He constantly collects materials from everywhere he can find them, often with help from friends who know his artistic eye.

“People give me things all the time,” he said.

“They’ll say, ‘This could be useful one day.’ So I’m constantly collecting.”

One of the exhibition’s largest pieces began life as an old puzzle table with drawers.

Stewart flipped the table around and gradually built up layers of objects, colours and shapes to create a completely new image.

Another striking piece, titled Fire Horse, was created from the dismantled parts of an old rocking horse.

“I take these old things apart, clean them up, sand them back and reassemble them,” he said.

“It’s really about working with the shapes and seeing what comes out.”

The creative process can take months, with Stewart often working intensively before stepping away and returning later with fresh ideas.

“One piece might take four months,” he said.

Dean Stewart (top) with one of his works called ‘reform’ – and a second work (above) assembled from everyday items

“I might work on it constantly for a few days, then leave it for a while and come back to it.”

The exhibition features five works created during the past three months, each exploring the theme of transformation.

TRANS/FORM is one of four exhibitions currently on display at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery.

The gallery’s March program also includes exhibitions by artists Laila Page, Darren Bryant and the collaborative project SheMossLed.

The exhibitions run until April 26.

Darren Bryant’s ‘Time Travellers’ exhibition uses a mix of old and new print technologies