The Darkness that open My Eyes 
Touring Art exhibition

My paintings can be impacting, moving, healing and speak to the viewer on their inner struggles and strengths. My artworks is always authentic, exhibiting strong and powerful images that draw a visual impact of the human emotion. Through my artwork it is my aim to gain more awareness for the struggles and strengths of people dealing with depression

I believe displaying my artwork can help the community to talk about and be more open to the day to day struggles of living with mental illness. Whilst this is an invisible illness, my artworks are a physical manifestation of the challenges of the ups and downs of living life with these issues. The exhibition can create a safe space for people to interact and connect with the artwork and realise that they are not alone in their own battles.

In society ,the stigma around depression still largely effects the way people feel about disclosing their feelings to others. My paintings are an expression of my inner world, and through my art I have found the courage to break the silence. Actually putting my artworks out there for the public to view, I hope that by breaking this stigma it will encourage others to do the same.
The past few years I have noticed that people are looking for more information about mental health. The stigma is starting to be broken down, but there is still a long way to go. This seems to be an ideal time to exhibit my artwork in a touring exhibition to help strengthen this process.

have had many successful solo exhibitions of ‘The Darkness That Opened My Eyes’ including the Caboolture Hub Regional Art Gallery in 2017, both the Redcliffe Regional Art Gallery and Art From The Margins Gallery in 2016, and at C Gallery in 2012. In 2014 I also had a solo exhibition in Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne titled ‘Broken Reality’, and The Darkness That Opened My Eyes solo exhibition in C Gallery in 2012 both for which I received positive feedback.

I am currently represented by Artisan Gallery and was represented by C Gallery, Fortitude Valley from 2012 until 2014.
In 2017 I received a Merit Award at the Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards Regional, and was also a finalist there in 2016 and 2013. In 2016 I won an Emerging Artist Award from the Art From The Margins Brisbane Festival Exhibition, and won the People’s Choice Award in their 2011 exhibition. I was a competition finalist at Cooks Hill Gallery in Newcastle for their ‘We Get By’ exhibition in 2015, and was also long listed in Brunswick Street Gallery’s 2014 Small Works Art Exhibition.

 ” My paintings are an expression of my inner world. Through my art I’ve found the courage to break the silence.” Joanne