The Gippsland Art Gallery has long been shaped by its environment—its forests, rivers, lakes, and coasts—and by the people who call this region home. This series of exhibitions and the accompanying catalogue, celebrates our sixtieth anniversary. It brings together four interwoven strands of our Collection that reflect the diversity, resilience, and creativity of the Gallery's artistic community.

Through Fragile Earth, we continue an ongoing dialogue with the environment and explore how artists respond to the natural world: celebrating its beauty, mourning its loss, and challenging us to rethink our relationship with this country. These works are not merely observations of nature but acts of engagement and care.

In Soft Subversions, we honour the vision and contributions of female artists who have expanded and redefined the language of art. From textiles to sculpture, painting to printmaking, their work confronts histories of exclusion, reclaims overlooked materials, and offers new ways of seeing.

Spirit of Place situates practices within a broader regional context, highlighting the artists who have found inspiration in this place—whether born here, living here, or drawn to its layered histories and landscapes.

Finally, the Borun & Tuk Collection stands as a dedicated space for Gunaikurnai artists, the Traditional Owners of Gippsland. Guided by principles of cultural sovereignty, respect, and reciprocity, this collection is not about possession, but about relationship—listening, learning, and holding space for First Nations voices.

Together, these threads reflect the Gippsland Art Gallery’s commitment to fostering an art collection that is grounded in place, attuned to community, and responsive to the urgent conversations of our time.

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