This year’s theme, Disrupt, is all about shaking things up. It encouraged our artists to step outside their comfort zones, challenge the usual way of doing things, and dive into the messy, emotional, and thought-provoking sides of disruption.  

Here in the Western Downs, we know a thing or two about contrasts. As Dorothea Mackellar wrote in her most famous poem, we know both the “beauty and the terror” of this land we call home.  

That raw honesty is reflected in the work of the 34 artists featured this year, who’ve captured the tension between light and dark, joy and fear, comfort and unease. 

A big thank you and congratulations to everyone who made this exhibition possible, especially this year’s exhibition host, Dogwood Crossing Gallery, Miles.  

Take your time exploring the 2025 Regional Artists’ Exhibition. Let the artworks speak to you – whether they make you smile, squirm, or stop and think. Most of all, I invite you to pause and appreciate the power of art to disrupt, challenge, and inspire.