Emerging artists to shine in solo exhibitions

Published 6:00am 24 February 2024

Words by Ashleigh Howarth

Art lovers will have the chance to admire an array of unique artworks this season with two new exhibitions opening at the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre.

Tahlia Mitchell from Bribie Island and Marie Shannon from the Sunshine Coast will showcase their collections after being selected as the centre’s artists of the month for March and April.

Each month one artist is given the opportunity to share more about themselves and their creative process with a wider audience through their displays and a meet the artist morning tea.

Meet the artists below.

Tahlia Mitchell

As the artist of the month for March, Tahlia (pictured above) will unveil several new oil paintings.

“I am going to fill the walls as best as I can with lots of large and small paintings,” Tahlia says.

“I have had some pieces displayed in other exhibitions alongside other artists, but to be the artist of the month is pretty cool.

“Everyone at the centre has been so supportive in helping me get to this point. I don’t think I would have been able to do this without their help.

“We are lucky to have a space like this on Bribie Island that supports artists and the work they do.”

Tahlia’s says it was her grandmother who taught her how to paint.

“I spent much of my childhood visiting my grandparents at ‘The Farm’ in Howard. There, my grandmother Phyllis introduced me to the wonders of oil paint,” Tahlia says.

“As an artist herself and a willing teacher, she guided me and patiently endured my endless questions and constant demands for more paint.”

As an abstract painter, Tahlia likes to paint faces as she finds them “fascinating”.

Tahlia will be available to chat with the community at her meet the artist morning tea on March 8 at 10.30am.

For more information about Tahlia and her work, visit her website.

Marie Shannon

The following month will be Marie’s turn to shine, with Marie (pictured above) highlighting her large metal wall hangings, lanterns and home decor made from recovered, recycled and repurposed items.

“I’m what you call an emerging artist because I have only been doing this for a couple of years,” Marie says.

“I don’t have a lot of things on my artist resume – I was a finalist in the Sunshine Coast’s Sculpture on the Edge competition, and I was also part of the Open Studios Sunshine Coast art trail.

“The team from Bribie saw what I was doing up there and reached out to me.

“This will be my first ever exhibition, which I am really excited about.”

Marie says she was motivated to follow her passion after a trip to South America.

“I was always intrigued by the idea of weaving wire, but it wasn’t until I travelled to Chile that I realised what you can do with copper wire,” Marie says.

“A lot of artists in Chile work with copper, and I saw so many beautiful things that inspired me.

“I came home and started weaving and it has evolved since then.”

Marie’s meet the artist morning tea will be held on April 12 at 10.30am.

To see more of Marie's work, follow her on Instagram.