LIT

Growing Pains Initiative

Light, or the lack of light, impacts on everything we do. It can affect our mood, our perception of space, and can instantly change how we see the world. The artists in "Lit" explore the element of light in a range of mediums.

This project is supported by Burrinja and Yarra Ranges Council.

The Upwey Archies

Bringing together the creative voices and vision of our community, this project is a celebration of the people of Upwey.

Inspired by the Archibald Prize and ‘Not The Archies’, the Upwey Archies is a community portrait project.

This is your chance to create an original artwork celebrating someone special to you or to the hills, and be in the running for six awards with mystery prizes like theatre tickets and meals in Upwey. 

The Upwey Township Group, in partnership with Burrinja, are thrilled to present The Upwey Archies 2018. 

The Upwey Archies is an exhibition of portraits featured in the windows of Upwey Traders until 13 November.

For more information email Toni at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone Burrinja on 9754 8723

Women Painting Women   

Realist portrait painting by Australian female artists.   

Women Painting Women is a major exhibition of portraiture oil painting and features recent works by Sally Ryan (NSW), Megan Roodenrys (SA), Dagmar Cyrulla, Vicki Sullivan, Fiona Bilbrough, Raelene Sharp and Heather Ellis (all VIC).

Giving insights into the relationships between the artists and their sitters (among these Yorta-Yorta soprano Deborah Cheetham, actress Sigrid Thornton, domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty and labour senator Penny Wong), the works touch on a variety of contemporary themes while revealing personal stories of reward and loss.

Taking its inspiration from the realist painting movement in the United States, the exhibition celebrates the talent of female portrait artists and the women who sit for them, and is the second instalment at Burrinja after its successful show in 2016.    

"This exhibition uniquely honours the female spirit - of realist painters and their sitters” - artist Vicki Sullivan

Join us for a live portrait painting demonstration by Vicki Sullivan in the gallery on Sunday 5 August from 11 to 4 pm

Texture & Line - Part 2: Figurative Abstraction1980s Abstraction from Charles Nodrum Gallery

Burrinja proudly presents a suit of abstract paintings from the collection of Charles Nodrum Gallery in Richmond. Charles Nodrum begun collecting Australian art in the 1970s when he worked at Joseph Brown Gallery in Melbourne. In 1984 he opened his own gallery, and through careful trading over the next 30 years, it has grown significantly in number and breadth. 

A special focus of the collection is abstract painting, from which this exhibition stems. Of the 1980s works in Charles Nodrum's collection, a stylistic line can be drawn between flat, precise geometric work and textured, painterly expressionistic work. This exhibition will present significant paintings in both styles and in two parts in order to explore these two divergent types of abstraction. Featured artists in Part 2 include James Gleeson, Victor Majzner, Paul Partos, David Rankin, Stanislaus Rapotec, Michael Taylor, Jan Senbergs, Aida Tomescu, John Walker. 

Join us for the Artist talk with David Rankin (from New York) will talk about his work and career at Burrinja on Sun 9 Sep 2pm

Faces & Forms - Alyson May

Burrinja Kids Stay and Play free family activity by local artists 

Faces and Forms aims to engage audiences of all ages in the observation of shape and structure of contemporary art.  In a society of increased visual language, it is important for the human eye to perceive and the brain to connote meaning from abstract forms.

In the Faces and Forms interactive installation children, and adults, can draw their own self-portrait or that of a friend on the perspex picture frames. Portraiture conveys humanities role in the world.  Visitors will experience the excitement of observing and drawing the lines and shapes that make up a portrait.

Each activity provides the opportunity to observe and reconstruct portraiture and amazing local art work.

More about Burrinja Kids - Stay and Play

Wild Awards 2018

The Wildlife Art Society of Australasia presents their major biennial exhibition ‘The Wild Awards’ in the Burrinja Gallery.

Be moved by this unique exhibition and the passion and talent of a diverse range of artists from the Australasian region. The exhibition features an exquisite array of different animal species and habitats in sculpture, painting and works on paper.

‘The Wild Awards’ encapsulates art excellence and this fine display proudly demonstrates the Society members’ strong passion and respect for wildlife and its habitat. Be delighted and inspired by this stunning collection of beautiful wildlife imagery by The Wildlife Art Society of Australasia.

“Intriguing and inspiring artwork. It’s always a joy to see a WASA exhibition.”- Kris Peter President Wildlife Art Society of Australasia

Join us for an Artist talk with Stephen Powell, Kris Peter & Janet Matthewa in the Burrinja Gallery on Sun 16 Sep 2pm.

Masters of Aboriginal Contemporary Art #2    
Minnie Pwerle : Beginnings 

Celebrating the work of one of the world’s great painters. 

Minnie Pwerle (1919-2006) grew up at Utopia, a former cattle station 300 km northeast from Alice Springs (also known as Urupuntja), home to the Anmatjerre language group. The story of her life was one of struggle and endurance. In 1999, at the age of 80, she took up painting and soon gained national recognition. The use of bold brushstrokes and bold, vibrant colours became her trademark, as did paintings of small bush melons and women’s body-painting designs.  
The exhibition surveys Minnie’s Pwerle’s oeuvre and features a series of unseen paintings including the very first ones she produced in 1999.
    
"Paintings of striking expressionistic quality.” – Burrinja Curator JD Mittmann

Black Mist Burnt Country

Testing the Bomb. Maralinga and Australian Art

In the 1950s Australia became the nuclear testing ground for the British Government. A total of 12 atomic tests were conducted. Sixty years after the events Black Mist Burnt Country revisits the history of the test program at Maralinga, Emu Field and Monte Bello Island, through works by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists across the mediums of painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, music and new media spanning seven decades.  An award winning Burrinja national touring exhibition.    

“Powerful, though-provoking, moving - a must-see.” - 2017 Audience member