Ipswich’s vibrant arts scene is in full swing, with emerging artist Kathryn Neilsen celebrating the success of her first solo exhibition while a packed calendar of creative events unfolds across the city.
Speaking on the Get Your Arts Into Gear podcast, Neilsen said her debut solo show, Object Landscape, opened at Banshees Bar & Artspace Ipswich to strong community support, with around a third of the 30 exhibited works already sold.
The exhibition features mixed-media paintings exploring personal identity through everyday objects and travel-inspired landscapes.
“I’m looking at the objects of my daily life as the landscape of myself,” Neilsen said. “When I travel, I don’t buy souvenirs — I paint landscapes, and they become the objects of those experiences.”
The exhibition will remain on display at the venue for a month, giving visitors the chance to view and purchase remaining works.
Rising Career Momentum
Neilsen, who works across both painting and photography, said the solo show marked a major milestone in her creative journey. She typically paints on location, using a combination of sketching and photography to capture scenes before transforming them into finished artworks.
Her momentum is set to continue throughout 2026, with two further solo exhibitions already confirmed.
The next, focusing on photography, will be held at an Ipswich community space in April, followed by a major solo exhibition at Landsborough Street Gallery in August. The latter forms part of her prize for winning the youth category at the 2025 Queensland Regional Art Awards presented by Flying Arts.
Neilsen also plans to deliver a series of art workshops, including a ticketed session linked to the closing of Object Landscape on March 15.
Workshops and Community Engagement
The artist said demand for her fine art workshops has been strong, with many sessions already selling out. While she mainly teaches painting and mixed-media techniques, she is also considering introducing photography workshops due to growing interest.
“I really enjoy sharing my passion, but I’m still very much an artist first,” she said.
Busy Season for Ipswich Arts
Podcast hosts Glenn Smith and DJ Sparky highlighted a busy few months ahead for Ipswich’s arts community, including the upcoming Creative Summit on March 7, a new mural competition as part of the Booval Fair, and the soon-to-be-announced Get Your Arts Into Gear Awards.
Recent events also showcased the city’s growing creative reputation, including a performance by award-winning opera singer Sophie Salvastani at St Paul’s Church.
With exhibitions, workshops and major events on the horizon, presenters said Ipswich’s arts scene continues to gain momentum in 2026, providing new opportunities for emerging and established creatives alike.
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