Welcome to Saṃsāra: have a nice day
Artist: Adam Blackshaw
Adam Blackshaw has degrees in psychology, philosophy and visual arts. He has been a social worker, teacher and worked in the cultural sector for over 20 years.
His art practice is inspired by creativity that exists on the periphery of the mainstream; Outsider Art, Street Art, Mail Art, Tattoo Art, Folk Art, ephemera and popular culture.
He has been exhibiting since 1983 in Australia and internationally. He lives in Canberra and is represented in a number of collections.
“It’s very simple. I make art I like to look at and think about.”
“These paintings are memories, dreams and reflections. Often sentimental, sometimes satirical, regularly personal and occasionally cut with a dark humour.
Saṃsāra is the eternal cycle of birth, existence and dying.”
Closing Night: Tuesday 29 April 6pm - 8pm
Untamed
Artist: Natalie Hill
Natalie is an emerging contemporary artist, based in Canberra, with a love for creating abstracted mixed media works based on play and spontaneity.
Drawn to the freedom of exploration, she finds inspiration in the simple act of stepping into her studio and responding to whatever surrounds her. Natalie’s process is intuitive—she reaches for whatever material, tool, or colour calls to her in the moment, allowing curiosity to guide her.
Her work often evolves into abstracted landscapes and imagery, inspired by her travels and the natural world. She describes it as a collaborative journey with the artwork itself, letting each piece unfold organically. For Natalie, the most satisfying moments come when a piece seems to come together on its own—when the work speaks, and she simply follows.
“This collection explores imagined landscapes shaped by memory—evoking the raw energy of nature along with its fleeting, imperfect, and unpredictable beauty, which I find deeply compelling.
Each piece is inspired by places I’ve travelled or small, often overlooked, details in nature that have captured my attention. The works are created using a variety of mixed media—acrylic paints, inks, collage, pastels, and more—embracing a playful, experimental approach throughout.”
Opening Night: Saturday 3 May 6pm - 8pm
@batnataz
Layers and Backdrops
Artist: Stephen Clively
Stephen Clively has been making art for three decades and, aside from his time spent as a policy adviser to the Australian and UK Governments, has found time to plunge into art part time at the Putney School of Art, the ANU School of Art evening classes and several ASOC Summer Art Experiences in Canberra. Stephen is the Secretary of the Artists Society of Canberra.
“What I aim for is art of balance and serenity, with the aim of creating art that soothes the mind.”
Layers and Backdrops is an exhibition of collages. Displaying bold colours and striking layouts, the works celebrate the variety of life in cafes, restaurants and bars across Australia. The scenes feature customers, pet dogs and the people who work there. There are scenes from Canberra, Sydney, Victoria Park, Fremantle and Margaret River. All works are collage made from paper sources from books and magazines, tracing paper, textiles, acrylic paint and paint pen, and artefacts such as wallpaper and maps.
Opening Night: Thursday 3 April 6pm - 8pm