'On The Wildside' Art Exhibition

Charlotte Wensley
Jul 29
3 min read

Updated: Aug 16

Celebrating Nature Through Art: Exploring the Wild.

Art has long been a powerful lens through which we view the world around us—its beauty, fragility, and the urgency with which we must protect it. In a time of great environmental change, artists are using their creativity to honour wildlife and wild places. Whether capturing the stillness of a forest, the shimmer of life beneath the surface, or the resilience of animals thriving against the odds, the works in this new exhibition at the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre serve as both reflection, tribute and call to action.

Butterfly design with text: "ON THE WILDSIDE" at Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre, 31 July - 7 Sept. Bold colors: red, blue, pink.

Local artists have come together to bring the themes of this exhibition to life. A diverse mix of over 40 landscape and wildlife artists, illustrators and sculptors have created over 130 pieces for the show, electing to create their pieces in relation to one or more categories.

My pieces fit within the Going, Going, Gone category; you can see the paintings and read more about my 'Legacy' Collection here.

| Wild Spaces

From towering mountain peaks to remote deserts, tangled rainforests to deep ocean trenches, Wild Spaces invites artists to celebrate the raw, untamed beauty of our planet. These are the vital landscapes and seascapes that shelter biodiversity, shape ecosystems, and stir the human imagination. Through canvas, sculpture, or mixed media, artists shine a light on the natural habitats that sustain life—and the importance of protecting them.

| Going, Going, Gone

This poignant category turns the spotlight on species on the brink. From critically endangered animals to extinct flora; Going, Going, Gone honours the creatures we are close to losing—or have already lost. Through art, their stories are not forgotten. These works raise awareness about the impacts of habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, and human activity, urging viewers to reflect, remember, and respond.

| Take a Dive

Dive beneath the surface to discover a world of astonishing beauty. Take a Dive showcases life in water—whether ocean depths, coastal shores, rivers, wetlands or even billabongs. Artists explore the grace of marine life, the rhythm of tides, and the vibrant ecosystems that pulse below. These pieces celebrate the wonders of aquatic life, inviting us to marvel at their forms and consider the fragility of their environments.

| Life in the Fast Lane

Wildlife is adapting—often ingeniously—to our urban sprawl. Life in the Fast Lane captures the new frontier of animal survival: city parks, backyard trees, alleyways, rooftops, and street corners. These works depict the resilience of species finding new ways to live among us, navigating the built world with creativity and grit. It’s a celebration of nature’s adaptability, but also a reminder of what’s at stake in our expanding cities.

| High Flyers

Wings beat a timeless rhythm across skies, fields, forests, and wetlands. High Flyers salutes the winged wonders of our world—birds, butterflies, moths, bees, and more. From dazzling colours to intricate flight patterns, artists capture the fleeting beauty and incredible diversity of flying fauna. In flight or still, these creatures are messengers of change, movement, and migration—and their stories take flight through every brushstroke.

This is an exhibition not to be missed!

Join us for the opening event, all welcome, no RSVP needed!

Where:

Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre

11 Maple Street

Cooroy

When:

Saturday 2nd August

4pm - 6pm

Here's a sneak peek of the show - thanks for a fun day hanging the show @fgroom_artist and @bielbypottery

SHOP the Legacy Collection Originals & Prints here