NOW SHOWING
John Mullins Memorial Art Gallery
NARRATIVE IN DETAIL
By Kate Beard & Karina Devine
The longstanding friendship between Queensland artists Kate Beard and Karina Devine is built on their mutual love for art, travel, and living in a close-knit community. Although their careers have taken them to different places, both remain deeply committed to their craft and to their bond with each other.
Beard’s vibrant acrylic paintings transform her personal memories into dynamic visual stories, employing layers of richly coloured glazes to create depth and emotion. In contrast, Devine’s mixed media works intricately weave together joyful experiences of home and meaningful connections, characterised by a juxtaposition of collage and “maximalist” detail. Despite their stylistic differences, both artists share a foundation in storytelling, with their works reflecting the beauty and lessons of life through uniquely identifiable techniques.
Their recent works, marked by vibrant colours and layered narratives, reveal a common thematic thread as each artist portrays the journey of their lives in her own way.
EXHIBITION DATES
28 March – 23 May 2026
Image: (top L) Kate Beard | A street in Switzerland 2025 | Acrylic on canvas | 609mm x 457mm
(top R): Karina Devine | Sarlat Laneway (detail) 2025 | Mixed media on canvas | 630mm x 630mm
ON THE CURVED WALL
A LITTLE PRICKLY
by Regina Hyland
This exhibition is an intimate exhibition of small abstract paintings by Regina Hyland, inspired by the Prickly Pear plant and Cactoblastis Moth.
Drawing from photographs captured across the Western Downs, Queensland – where small stands of the once-invasive Prickly Pear still remain, each work offers a close, contemplative view of the plant’s intricate forms, colours, and textures. The prickly pear is a recurring theme for Hyland, and in this series, she also incorporates the Cactoblastis moth, marking 2026 as the centennial of its introduction to Australia as a biological control for the invasive pear.
Rendered in the geometric abstract style the artist feels most at home with, these works transform botanical and zoological details into bold, but refined compositions.
EXHIBITION DATES
28 March – 23 May 2026
Image: Regina Hyland | Cactoblastes (Blue Sky) No.1 (detail) 2025 | Acrylic on canvas | 200mm x 200mm
