Entertainment
27 September, 2026
Display through their eyes
FIRST Nations artists at different stages of their creative careers will showcase their work in two new exhibitions opening at UMI Arts in Manoora next month.
‘Culture Through Our Eyes 2026’ and ‘Exhibition Ready 2026’ will open at UMI Arts’ Jensen Plaza Gallery on Friday 2 October, bringing together secondary school students and established artists.
Culture Through Our Eyes 2026 showcases 44 works by 26 First Nations artists from Djarragun College, St Mary’s Catholic College and Trinity Bay State High School.
The annual exhibition offers secondary school-aged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists the opportunity to develop their creative practice and to display their work in a professional gallery environment. Works span acrylic painting, miniature works on watercolour paper, digital textile printing and contemporary mixed-media sculpture.
UMI Arts artistic director Lisa Michl-Ko-manggén said the exhibition offered young artists insight into potential careers in the creative industries.
“For some, this may be their first experience exhibiting publicly and that can be incredibly powerful – building confidence and showing them where their creativity might take them.
“What makes this exhibition so special is the individuality of the work. These young artists bring their own ideas and experiences, drawing on culture, family, community and Country, and giving audiences a wonderful insight into how this generation sees itself and the world around it,” Ms Ko-manggén said.
Running alongside the student exhibition, Exhibition Ready 2026 showcases 12 new works by Hopevale artist Shane Gibson (Aka Dhuga), of the Bulgu Thuubi and Bindhi clans and Torres Strait Islander artist Robert Tommy Pau of the Erub Samsep clans.
Mr Gibson will present four acrylic works on canvas exploring cultural memory, fishing, community life and connection to Country, while Mr Pau will exhibit eight acrylic works on mounted board responding to news, current events and contemporary social issues.
The exhibitions cap UMI Arts’ 2026 exhibition series during the organisation’s 21st year. They will officially open with a free public event and smoking ceremony at 6pm on Friday 2 October at UMI Arts’ Jensen Plaza Gallery, Jensen Street, Manoora, and will run until 26 February 2027.
