Tweed Regional Gallery will present its summer showcase of exhibitions at an official opening on Friday 14 November, including re/JOY, a major exhibition by Thai-born Australian artist Vipoo Srivilasa, on display until 9 February 2026.
re/JOY honours and celebrates the multi-layered personal migration stories of people from all over the world who, like Vipoo, have made Australia their home.
In 2023, the award-winning ceramic artist issued a public call-out for donations of broken ceramic objects that held significant meaning for their owners, and for their stories explaining why. From the responses Vipoo chose 7 pieces and stories that resonated with him to create his striking new 1.5-metre-tall ceramic sculptures.
The exhibition explores the emotional connection we have with everyday objects and their role in our lives through migration experiences and memories. It will tour Australia from 2025 -2027 through Australian Design Centre on Tour.
Australian Design Centre CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Cahill said the exhibition sparked joy and represented a narrative of human experience.
“This project is joyful, playful and hopeful — a rich tapestry of humanity that reconnects with broken objects to reveal their deeper meaning,” Ms Cahill said.
Vipoo Srivilasa spoke about the spirit of positivity behind his work.
“Even though the subjects seem kind of serious, the work is really positive. I find joy in all these places,” Mr Srivilasa said.
Vipoo will present an artist preview floor talk from 5 – 6 pm before the official Summer Opening Celebrations. A new monograph about his life and work, Vipoo Srivilasa Positive Art Work, is also available for purchase at the Gallery shop.
Two exciting solo exhibitions by Northern Rivers artists, Leah Thiessen and Nat Kafka, will also feature in the Gallery’s summer launch.
In her exhibition, Along the Shore and Under the Trees, Thiessen presents a new series of oil paintngs that explore the memory, pulse and rawness of the bush and estuary of the Northern Rivers. Kafka was the recipient of the Tweed Regional Gallery - Byron School of Art (BSA) 3rd Year Graduate Award in 2024 and continues her exploration of what lies beneath the surface through a series of paintings and ceramics in Between Appearance.
The Gallery’s regional focus includes the exhibition Figure and Field, featuring the work of regional artists and curator, Bradley Vincent. The group exhibition features a selection of work by Lucia Canuto, Hilary Herrmann and Meg Stoios.
Four new commissioned portraits by regional photographer and Koa-Kuku Yalanji artist Jo-Anne Driessens will also be celebrated. Driessens was invited to create portraits of four First Nations artists from the region whose work is held in the Tweed Regional Gallery collection. The portraits include Dr Bronwyn Bancroft AM (Bundjalung artist), Penny Evans (K/Gamilaroi artist), Michael Philp (Minjungbal-Bundjalung artist), and Karla Dickens (Cross-Cultural Wiradjuri artist).
The works are on display in the Gallery’s latest collection exhibition Mirror-view: Artists by Artists, drawn largely from the Tweed Regional Gallery collection and focusing on artists as both the subject and portraitist.
Gallery Director Ingrid Hedgcock said the exhibitions were a fantastic way to end what has been an incredible year.
“We’re excited to round off the year by sharing these fabulous new exhibitions, 4 of which celebrate artists and curators from our region. I’m sure our audience will enjoy the positivity and strength of Vipoo’s exhibition and the ‘Artmaking for everyone’ summer activities based on his beautiful artworks will be popular with families," Ms Hedgcock said.
"The new commissioned portraits celebrate important artists from our region and we’re looking forward to sharing our entire summer program with the community and visitors to our region over summer.”
The free, family-friendly activities will be available during the Gallery’s opening hours from Saturday 13 December until Sunday 25 January 2026.
The Gallery invites everyone to celebrate the launch of their summer program at the opening celebrations on Friday 14 November starting at 6pm.
Bookings essential. Book via humanitix: events.humanitix.com/sonov25
Public Programs:
Artist Preview Floortalk
re/JOY: Vipoo Srivilasa
Friday 14 November | 5 – 6 pm DST | $15/20
Join the artist for an insightful exhibition walk-through of re/JOY: Vipoo Srivilasa, an Australian Design Centre (ADC On Tour) national touring exhibition. Learn more about his celebrated ceramics practice and the exhibition on display.
Bookings essential. Book via humantix: events.humanitix.com/vsadc
Summer Opening Celebrations
Friday 14 November | 6 – 8 pm DST | Free
Join us for the opening celebrations for re/JOY: Vipoo Srivilasa, an Australian Design Centre (ADC On Tour) national touring exhibition; Figure and Field curated by Bradley Vincent and featuring works by Lucia Canuto, Hilary Herrmann and Meg Stoios; Along the Shore and Under the Trees by Leah Thiessen, and Between Appearance by Nat Kafka.
Bookings essential. Book via humanitix: events.humanitix.com/sonov25
Artmaking for Everyone
Sat 13 December 2025 – Sun 25 January 2026 I 10 am – 4 pm DST | Free
Join us in the Gallery Foyer this summer for free family-fun activities inspired by re/JOY: Vipoo Srivilasa, an Australian Design Centre (ADC On Tour) national touring exhibition. Suitable for families — all ages and abilities. Children under 14 years must be supervised by an adult.
No bookings required.
Gallery Playdate
Wed 3 December | 9.00 – 10.00 am DST | Free
Fun, engaging sessions for children aged 3 - 5 years and their carers. Each session is based on a current exhibition and uses creative play to develop imagination and skill. Younger children are welcome to attend and enjoy the sensory play area and story time. Guided artmaking activities are suited to 3-5 yrs. In this session we will explore the exhibition re/Joy by Vipoo Srivilasa.
Bookings essential. Book via humanitix: events.humanitix.com/gpdspr