A hanging garden of art blooms at Manly Art Gallery & Museum
A VIBRANT NEW EXHIBITION
Northern Beaches Council is proud to present Garden Variety, featuring at Manly Art Gallery & Museum (MAG&M) over the summer months.
The exhibition invites visitors to explore the garden as a rich metaphor for our connection to nature, culture and creativity.
Garden Variety features artworks by 5 acclaimed contemporary Australian artists: Natasha Bieniek, Lucy Culliton, Nic Fern, Michael Kempson and Louise Zhang.
The artists’ diverse practices span painting, printmaking and mixed media, each engaging with motifs of gardening, horticulture and landscaping.
Curated to resemble a hanging garden of art, and part of MAG&M’s Collective for Environmental Art & Design (CEAD) program, Garden Variety runs from 5 December 2025 to 15 February 2026.
Highlights include Natasha Bieniek’s miniature oil paintings that capture botanical detail with astonishing precision, and Louise Zhang’s vibrant surreal compositions that blend floral forms with cultural symbolism.
Lucy Culliton, known for her expressive depictions of rural gardens brings a personal touch, while Michael Kempson’s etchings offer layered narratives of landscape and memory.
Nic Fern’s abstract works evoke the emotional resonance of natural forms through texture and colour.
The exhibition also features a temporary display of unique bonsai trees, adding a living element to the gallery space.
Manly Art Gallery & Museum opening times
Tuesday – Sunday
10am – 5pm
West Esplanade Reserve, Manly
