The Summer Show: “Prints and Pots” – featuring artists Sarah Gabriel and Gabrielle Falconer

 Step into a world of colour and abundance with Sarah Gabriel, whose artworks burst with her passion for bold floral arrangements, gathered from her own garden or her favourite growers. Sarah pairs these blooms with traditional, hand-made decorative fabrics collected from around the world, alongside hidden gems and unlikely companions unearthed while fossicking through op shops and antique stores. The result is a joyful body of still life that captures her deep connection to nature and invites the beauty of the natural world into our everyday interiors.

This exhibition showcases Sarah’s beautiful works in acrylic on board and French ink on pianola rolls, and introduces her stunning new collection of earthy ceramics. Drawing on her family background in horticulture and fashion, her love of music and her keen eye for the natural world, these pieces offer a truly unique celebration of colour, texture and nature.

In captivating contrast, Gabrielle Falconer’s striking prints and ceramics draw inspiration from illustrations of early colonial women in Tasmania. Scenes from these women’s richly detailed journals come vividly to life, revealing a compelling fascination with survival.

Gaby says “My work does have a theme: I am working on imagery about female colonial artists and in particular their contribution to early botanical and zoological texts and science. I have been reading and thinking about how these artists saw themselves as amateurs and that their artistic practise was seen as a pastime but they were actually highly skilled and produced incredibly accurate illustrations, often drawing from live specimens. I have used parts of their works, quotes and imaginative portraits in an endeavour to bring to life the paradigm of being an ’amateur’ at that time. I have also tried to give context to their artmaking through referencing how they collected specimens, how art materials were purchased and the interaction with everyday life as painting and drawing were conducted at home. Artists I have been interested in are Louisa Anne Meredith, Mary Morton Allport, Harriet and Helena Scott and Elizabeth Gould.

An exciting exhibition to commence 2027!

Exhibition Opening Event

Join us for the exhibition opening event of The Summer Show exhibition on Saturday, 23 January 2026, at 2 pm at Blenheim Gallery and Garden. If you would like to attend, please register for the event by selecting the button below.