Ella The Art Wonderer

25/03/2026

Kids stand apart at Top Arts 🎭
Every year the exhibits the most outstanding artworks by VCE students. This year 43 emerging artists give us a visual of what young creative Victorians are thinking now, and it’s wonderful🤩

This annual showcase at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia in .square is free to see and runs until the 19th of July.
It’s an exhibition that always brings hope for the future in the talent it presents but this year feels special somehow.
There’s a level of self and art historical awareness throughout that had me enthralled 🤩
These kids know their 💩!

I was happy to be swept back to the Baroque by Geordie Williamson’s Allegory of a blanket.
Julian Opie’s oeuvre immediately comes to mind with Shaun McKearney’s work.

Grant Wood’s infamous painting, American gothic is eluded to by Audrey Jacque’s incredible painting, The echo of someone else’s memory.

I see Francis Bacon’s influence on Zindzi Clayfords haunting oil on canvas. And the soul of the surrealists in Tim Yarrow’s Breeding burdens.

But it’s the whimsical miniatures that really spoke to me this year. Sandra Abeywardena’s hairy caterpillar 🐛, Tess Simmons tiny eyelashed owl and Willow Hines’s ecological microcosm in a mini fridge all come to mind.

Cameron Ma’s tiny clay figures facing off in her sculptural work, Seeing you, seeing me is my favourite work in the show. Superbly executed, these intricate clay creatutes are an allegory for the mother-daughter relationship and more broadly understanding our differences.

Every artist in this show is exceptional and I dearly hope this is the beginning of their artistic careers. It’s an honour to be one of the chosen from over 1100 submissions. Keep that art coming kids!

Fun fact: I had a painting in the equivalent of Top Arts (See last pic 🤦‍♀️)Despite the work still making me cringe, the accolade made me believe I could have a future in art. The exposure made me realise I don’t have the balls to be an artist. The same can’t be said for fellow student, .reisch who continues to back herself as an artist. Respect ✊🏻 Steph!

19/03/2026

If like me, you've ever wondered who Banksy is, well now we know and it's certainly not who I expected! What a legend!

An in-depth investigation drawing on court files, photos and public records reports the world-famous anonymous artist is a Bristol-born man who later adopted a new identity.

21/02/2026

Loving the LOCALS 🥂📸❤️‍🔥

Exhibition openings are an excellent way to meet other art interested people over free drinks. And Outre’s annual showcase of local talent always draws a big fun crowd.

My fav way to start at convo at a group art show like this is to ask, “What’s your favourite work?” Answers always lead to insights; into the person, our shared interests and the artwork itself.

Hearing how & why an artwork resonates with someone makes you view it anew and brings you closer to someone you just met.

I learned ‘s fav work was ‘She’ll be right, mate’ by for its reimagining of Frederick McCubbin’s famous Heidelberg school painting with a giant friendly octopus serving tea.

was drawn to the mysterious landscapes of , and .luke.art 🌆 While fav artwork was ‘Grape Ape’ by .berry_

My fav work was ‘Gmork’ by As an 80’s kid, I’m haunted by the face of The NeverEnding Story’s messenger of the Nothing 🐺

captures the sinister character perfectly with splashes of neon paint piled on impasto style that vibrate against the predominant black blue hues.

I had the pleasure of talking with many of the artists in the show about their work including still life aficionado and who was drinking with iconic fashionista, 🍻

I noted so many worthy works as I quaffed my Prosecco like ‘Strawberry Matcha Love’ by , ‘Cute Commute (an ode to my bike)’ 🚲 by , ‘Fire Horse’ by , ‘Land of Plenty’ by , ‘Skin’ by , ‘Eastern Grass Owl’ by , ‘Fugu with Little Hats at a Kuromon Market Stall’ by , ‘First Contact’ by , ‘Home (where I want to be) by , ‘The Heron’s Vow’ by and more than instagram will let me mention!

If you weren’t there on opening night, it’s 🆒, you can still go find out which work in the show is your fav in Fitzroy until the 15th of March 😉❤️🖼️👍🏻

04/01/2026

Gargantuan gowns by Boss Ladies at the National Gallery of Victoria 💃

140 works by iconic designers Vivienne Westwood & Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons are on display at the NGV International until April 19th 2026.

Vivienne Westwood was a lifelong heroine of mine. She embodied style, class and being an artistic badass. As an 80’s kid, she shaped the style of our generation; from punk to pop to couture. It’s incredible to see that breadth of her work in this exhibition.

Despite my fandom, I found myself drawn more to the outrageous designs of Her wild, unconventional construction creates garments that look more like wearable contemporary art than clothes.

Both self taught designers are masters of playing with proportions. While Westwood flatters with corsets, bustles, bows and ruffles drawn from the Victorian era, Kawakubo distorts with lumps, asymmetry, and architectural forms that feel 🆕.

Look 5, from Kawakubo’s Break Free collection for spring-summer 2024 is my top look in the show. The brightly patterned kimono style dress is a masterpiece 🙌🏻 it’s hard to spot so be sure to look for it!

Westwood’s Watteau Grand dress and gloves from her 1995 spring-summer collection is my fav of her gowns. The girly combo of shot purples and pinks with huge bows trimmed in blue fringe is lavishly OTT.

I still draw inspo from Westwood’s rebellious spirit and live by her words of wisdom; “You’ve got to read, you’ve got to go to art galleries!” But now I will follow Kawakubo’s future collections for Comme des Garçons with keen interest 👁️‍🗨️

Fun fact: Last time I was in London I went to Worlds End (located where opened her S*X store in 1974) but to my dismay I arrived minutes too late and had to settle for window shopping while enjoying Italian across the road at Frantoio 🍝 🍷 😝