Mary Featherston

Mary Bronwyn Featherston (born 1943) is an Australian interior designer specialising in design of learning environments. The focus of her research and practice is the relationship between young people, learning theory and the design of supportive physical environments in cultural venues and schools. She has collaborated with leading Australian and international educators, architects and policy makers to develop participatory processes and innovative physical environments. Her work has been widely awarded and published. As an activist Mary helped to develop new services for families and children: Community Child Care & Community schools in 1970s, Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange 1994. In 1982 Mary successfully campaigned for establishment of Australia's first Children's Museum in the Museum Victoria.

Mary is an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University, in 2020 she was made a member of the Order of Australia.

In 1965 Mary formed a life and professional partnership with designer Grant Featherston, they were inaugural inductees into the Design Hall of Fame, they are represented in the collections of several State Galleries and the National Gallery of Australia.

Exhibitions Design for Life: Grant and Mary Featherston, Heide Museum, 30 June 7 October 2018. Curator/s: Kirsty Grant and Denise Whitehouse

Currently 8 works of art in the National Gallery of Victoria.

Awards Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame in 1996 Member of the Order of Australia in 2020