Contemporary frame of mind.

It’s a career that has taken her from law into the heart of the visual arts, with stops along the way at London’s Central Saint Martins and The Sotheby’s Institute, the MCA Australia, and ultimately, her own cultural communications agency, Articulate. 

Over 16 years, Articulate has been behind some of the country’s most significant art events and institutions – from MONA and the NGV to the Kaldor Public Art Projects and the Biennale of Sydney – while Elphinstone’s parallel work as an art advisor has helped private and corporate clients build collections of lasting impact.

Her professional life is immersed in the work of Australia’s leading artists, curators and gallerists, but the art she lives with is chosen by a different compass. 

“My personal aesthetic and desire to create a retreat from the world influences the works I place in our home,” she says. More provocative or challenging pieces often live in the Articulate office, while her Woollahra home offers a quieter, more contemplative atmosphere.

When choosing for her own collection, the decision is as much instinct as intellect. “The concept behind the work, the artist’s lens, the materiality and technical execution all play through my mind when assessing a work,” she explains. “Ultimately, it’s a gut feeling, and I have to love the work to be able to live with it.” 

Among her most treasured pieces are an Augusta Vinall Richardson bronze sculpture, a Teelah George woven wall work framed in hand-pressed bronze, and paintings by Marion Abraham, Mark Maurangi Carol and Michael Georgetti.

With Sydney Contemporary 2025 on the horizon, Elphinstone is excited about the fair’s new section, Photo Sydney, dedicated exclusively to contemporary photography. 

 She sees it as part of the event’s broader appeal: “There are access points for people at all stages of collecting. Whether you’re starting out or already collecting, there’s a lot to be discovered this year – both in gallery booths and through the curated program presented across the four days.”

For her, Sydney Contemporary is as much about dialogue as it is about discovery. “The Fair has become a highly anticipated moment in Sydney’s cultural calendar,” she says. “It’s also an incredibly efficient way to see a huge diversity of works, meet artists and gallerists, and learn about the latest trends and ideas shaping the arts sector.”

That desire to open art collecting to more people also underpins her recent book, Collecting: Living with Art. Featuring the homes of 26 Australian collectors, it offers both inspiration and practical guidance for starting a collection, no matter the budget. 

“Living with art is a markedly different experience to viewing it in a gallery,” she notes. “Works can reflect personal stories, mark milestones, or spark conversations. They can transform the energy of a room entirely.”

Her advice for emerging collectors is characteristically personal. “Always follow your heart. Only you will know when a work engages your attention, and what draws you in may not have the same impact on another,” Elphinstone describes. “Art should encourage new perspectives, bring joy, challenge you, and sometimes keep you up at night thinking about it.” 

It’s a sentiment that underscores her own life’s work – building connections between artists and audiences, and proving that the most meaningful collections are not measured by their size, but by the stories and connections they hold.


Sydney Contemporary will be staged at Carriageworks from 11th - 14th September, 2025.

Click here for more information and your exclusive ticket offer - on us.