Exhibitions

Women of the Badlands celebrates the work of creative women connected to Nillumbik’s renowned arts hubs: Montsalvat, Dunmoochin, Baldessin Studio, and Garambi Baanj/Laughing Waters.

Nillumbik’s creative ecosystem has been shaped by generations of artists who share, collaborate, and build together. These four hubs have long provided rare environments for artistic exploration, attracting artists to the region and fostering a vibrant and enduring community.

This exhibition and series, part of the Women of Montsalvat project, honours women artists with ties to these hubs. Through exhibitions and conversations, it strengthens connections between these places, deepens public understanding of their history and value, and encourages new collaborations among Nillumbik’s artists.

Women of the Badlands is presented by the Women of Montsalvat project, a public art initiative supported by the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program. The project commemorates the founding women artists of Montsalvat and upholds their values of collaboration, mentorship, and social connection. It also highlights the role of artists’ colonies and residencies in placing Australian art in an international context, supporting a vibrant community of artists through shared practice.

In Conversation Series
Friday 6 February 6pm: Opening Night and Artist Talk from the Women of Montsalvat project
Friday 13 February 6pm: In Conversation event with artists from Dunmoochin
Friday 20 February 6pm: In Conversation event with artists from Laughing Waters/Garambi Baanj
Friday 27 February 6pm: In Conversation event with artists from Baldessin Studio

Montsalvat, established in 1934, is Australia’s oldest continuous artist community. Set on 12 acres of gardens with 34 historic buildings, Montsalvat provides painters, sculptors, writers, musicians, poets, and other makers with the time, space, and support to create, teach, exhibit, and perform.

Dunmoochin was founded in the early 1950s by a group of artists in Cottles Bridge who sought to live closely with nature as a source of inspiration and learning. Today, it offers artists retreats of up to two years, providing time and space to explore the creative, environmental, and cultural significance of the area.

Baldessin Studio located in St Andrews bushland, has been home to printmakers since George Baldessin built his studio in the 1970s. Established as a non-profit centre in 2001, Baldessin Studio is run by master printmakers who encourage experimentation while respecting the traditions of the craft. The studio supports both serious instruction and creative exploration in a variety of printmaking techniques.

Garambi Baanj / Laughing Waters Cultural Precinct in the Yarra Valley is a stretch of river flats lined with eucalypts and a significant gathering place for the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung for tens of thousands of years. An artist-in-residence program was first established in the late 1990s and has since been revived, providing studios and housing in heritage-listed homes. The precinct emphasizes deep immersion, cultural exchange, and connection to Country.