Artist credit: Nat Will @moe.does.life
This month, the Atrium at the Civic Centre in Moss Vale became a vibrant celebration of local creativity with the Get to Know Your Local Gallery exhibition. Designed to highlight the richness and diversity of the Southern Highlands art scene, the exhibition brings together some of the region’s most exciting and enduring galleries – and The Pop-Up Project is proud to be among them.
As part of this initiative, visitors will get a taste of what each gallery offers, from bold contemporary works to delicate and reflective pieces – all showcasing the extraordinary talent living and working in our region. Participating galleries include Bowral Art Gallery, Creative Space, CTC Robertson, The Pop-Up Project and Centennial Vineyards Gallery, Michael Reid Berrima, Ngununggula and Spud Lane Gallery.
For The Pop-Up Project, this exhibition is a chance to share the evolving stories of our artist members and celebrate the power of collaboration – something we’ve proudly nurtured through our ongoing partnership with Centennial Vineyards Cellar Door.
A Perfect Pairing: The Pop-Up Project x Centennial Vineyards
Our ongoing exhibition series with Centennial Vineyards brings together two Southern Highlands icons – fine local wine and local visual art. Set against a backdrop of rolling vines and rustic charm, Centennial’s cellar door is more than a destination for wine lovers – it’s a curated cultural experience, thanks to the rotating exhibitions curated by The Pop-Up Project.
Each exhibition features a handpicked mix of emerging and established artists, chosen not only for their skill but for their ability to capture the region’s creative spirit. Visitors can enjoy art in unexpected spaces – sculptures nestled between wine barrels, ceramics catching the cellar door’s natural light, and paintings that reflect the ever-changing beauty of the Highlands landscape.
It’s an experience rooted in authenticity, where every bottle of wine and every brushstroke tells a local story.
Featured Artists from The Pop-Up Project
At the Get to Know Your Local Gallery exhibition, The Pop-Up Project is proud to showcase the work of four talented artists whose stories, mediums and messages offer a powerful window into both personal and collective experience.
Jacqui Brown
Magnolias at Corbett Gardens | Acrylic on Canvas
Jacqui’s vivid and detailed piece captures the beauty of the magnolia season in the Highlands – a time often overshadowed by Tulip Time, but just as striking. Her work reflects a deep connection to place, portraying landscapes and homefronts filled with character and warmth. In Magnolias at Corbett Gardens, viewers are drawn into a timeless scene that feels both familiar and new – a moment of quiet observation rendered in full bloom.
Natalie Will
The Half Dead Venus | Mixed Media / Collage
Natalie Will’s ambitious and emotionally charged work reimagines the mythological figure of Venus through the lens of modern womanhood. Layered with symbolism – from antidepressants and eviction letters to recycled shopping bags and tissue paper collage – this piece is both beautiful and confronting. It explores themes of identity, societal pressure and the often-invisible labour of motherhood, presenting a visual narrative that is as intricate as it is thought-provoking.
Monique Turczynski
Echoes of Atlantis | Mixed Media on Canvas
Monique’s oceanic-inspired work captures the quiet, persistent strength found in nature’s rhythm. With its soothing palette and textured movement, Echoes of Atlantis is a visual meditation on resilience – both personal and universal. It speaks to the ebb and flow of life, and the power found in adaptation and acceptance. Monique’s journey as a mother and artist is gently embedded in each wave-like gesture of the brush, creating a work that resonates long after viewing.
Negin Chahoud
Azade (Freedom) | Echo-Dyed Paper, Watercolour Ink & Stitching
In Azade, Negin shares a deeply personal story of her escape from the Iranian regime. The piece is both delicate and raw – combining traditional Persian calligraphy with hand-dyed and stitched paper. Repetition, texture and intentional imperfection all come together to depict a powerful narrative of survival and hope. It’s a tribute to her journey, her grandmother, and the freedom they both fought for – and a reminder of the resilience that lives within art and memory.
Art That Connects Community
At The Pop-Up Project, we believe in creating platforms that celebrate not just art, but the people and stories behind it. Exhibitions like Get to Know Your Local Gallery are more than just showcases – they’re invitations. Invitations to engage with your local creative community, to explore new perspectives, and to support the makers who enrich our region in meaningful ways.
We’re proud to stand alongside our fellow galleries in this collaborative exhibition, and we invite you to visit the Civic Centre this month, immerse yourself in the creativity on show, and discover something new about the place we call home.
Connect with us:
@shthe_pop_up_project
Interested in exhibiting with us? Reach out via our website – we’re always looking for artists and venues who share our passion for creativity, collaboration and community.
