“Niminjarra is the two brothers transforming into a snake so they can come back home to Ngayartakujarra (Lake Dora). They were in training for ceremony, those two brothers, but they were kept too long, and nobody was there to release them. They waited then they decided to transform into snakes to travel back to where they came from, because their mother was waiting for them. This is Jukurrpa (Dreaming story).”
Desmond Taylor, 2019

Jila Kujarra: Two Snakes Dreaming is a cross-cultural collaboration between Warnman artist Desmond Taylor and Boorloo-based textiles practitioner Mariaan Pugh, commissioned by Fremantle Arts Centre in partnership with Martumili Artists.

Taylor and Pugh have worked together to transform Taylor’s Niminjarra paintings, usually seen on canvas or paper, into highly tactile textile works, animating the important Niminjarra Jukurrpa (Dreaming).

This body of work is born of Taylor’s desire to see his artworks reimagined through a textile medium and is a contemporary crafting of important ancestral stories deeply rooted in Warnman Ngurra (Country).

In her debut solo exhibition, Swiss Sri Lankan artist Rani Fankha explores identity, emotion, and connection through layered black-and-white illustrations and vivid expressionist paintings. Inspired by her multicultural heritage and life in Esperance Kepa Kurl, Rani reflects on themes of belonging, displacement, and cultural legacy. Her work bridges personal and collective histories, inviting audiences to connect with shared human experiences.

Alex invites you to come to The Art Room and spend some time Tree Listening, and not only with your ears, but heart, brain and senses. Read a book, smell a branch, cure your tree-blindness, draw a leaf, remember a tree that’s been important to you or take a stethescope out into the Cannery gardens.

Welcome to the colourful world of Fi Wilkie

Surrounded by the native flora and fauna in Margaret River, Western Australia, Artist Fi Wilkie is drawn to observe the delicate change of seasons, the contrast of chaos and order in the bush landscape and the stories of connection that exists within it. 

In 2023 Fi visited the Cannery Arts Centre for a residency, hosting a collage workshop and exploring our natural environment for her Wander Out Yonder exhibition creating ‘Drinking in the Sunshine-Banksia speciosa’ a painted paper collage of our New Holland Honey Eaters in a frenzy of delight in a forest of Banksia speciosa (Showy Banksia) “When we visited Esperance in the late Summer - we walked and walked through an amazing jungle path lined on both sides with 4 metre high flowering Banksia speciosa-I’ll never forget it!” This is one of a series of artworks created for her Wander Out Yonder series. Her other Esperance inspired work is Rock Hop and Bloom at Lucky Bay, showcasing pig face, rock parrots and beach loving kangaroos, "if you visit Lucky Bay in the Cape Le Grand National Park just East of Esperance you might be lucky to see these lazy macropods lounging on the impossibly white and squeaky sand. Blue water is not a good description - the colour of the water in this part of the world is hard to describe...as is the landscape, the flora and the great people who live there."

Explore the unique elements of Esperance through an interactive, community-driven art project at the Cannery Arts Centre, Art Room Gallery. Running alongside the Esperance Art Awards 2024, this exhibition invites participants of all ages to express their connection to Esperance's wild waters, strong winds, and rugged landscapes.

Inspired by Oscar Munrillo’s The Flooded Garden, join us over the summer holidays to create a collaborative artwork celebrating the beauty and spirit of this incredible place.

Painting involved—dress for mess! Children must be supervised.

Tuesdays to Fridays ONLY

The Esperance Art Awards are the major visual arts awards open to artists living in the South-East Region of WA. It showcases and celebrates the works of emerging and established artists in an exhibition judged by an impartial arts professional. Since 1969 the Cannery Arts Centre has hosted this iconic event with support from multiple sponsors to the delight of artists and visitors alike.

The exhibition features 81 artworks from 66 artists, spanning from Norseman in the north, Beaumont to the east and Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe to the west. Open until the 9th February 2025, entry is free and artworks are available for purchase.

The Esperance Art Awards are the major visual arts awards open to artists living in the South-East Region of WA. It showcases and celebrates the works of emerging and established artists in an exhibition that is judged by an impartial arts professional. Since 1969 the Cannery Arts Centre has hosted this iconic event with support from multiple sponsors to the delight of artists and visitors alike.

We invite artists to submit works for delivery 4-8 November 10am-4pm each day with extension to 5pm on 8 November 2024.

Awards and Opening Night 21 November 2024 6pm

Exhibition 21 November 2024-9 February 2025

What The Eyes Cannot See is a community collaborative storytelling project facilitated by Fremantle based artists Audrey Fernandes-Satar and Arif Satar in partnership with the Cannery Arts Centre for the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial (IOTA24).

Community members are invited to participate in art making workshops creating a series of Story Books and Memory Objects reflecting their sense of identity, culture and connection to place. 

The Story Books will be fashioned as a Zine, short for Magazine, an innovative way of creating a small book by folding creasing and re-folding rice paper to create artistic books exploring the concept of ‘codified’ messages using a mixed media of collage drawing writing and painting.

The creation of Memory Objects by using the medium of ceramics will involve the development of skills in hand building techniques to create 3D objects as ‘codified’ forms that capture the essence of individual stories exploring the concept of What The Eyes Cannot See, leading to an abstraction when individual works are compiled into collective assemblages. 

Stitched and Bound is The West Australian Quilters Association Inc. (WAQA) Contemporary Exhibition. It is a biennial, juried exhibition showcasing the innovative range of work being produced by Western Australian artists who challenge the usual concept of the ‘quilt’ medium.

First Solo Australian Exhibition - Den L. Scheer

Monotype prints (monoprints), graphite drawings and assembled salvaged wool bags

Terra Ager is an assembly of sketches that use monoprint to explore the dynamism of animal movement and graphite anatomical studies to engage the eugenics of the cattle, horses and sheep. Referencing the Latin words for Land/Territory (Terra) and Farm (Ager), Den draws upon her farming heritage to negotiate how genetic traits can be tested and selectively integrated into herds to meet the needs of the farmer or the herd’s overall genetic stability. Her fascination with the process of selecting studs and culling herds informs her artistic practice, which focuses on how the animal body is influenced by human intervention and the selective knowledge necessary for this process.

Esperance Potters Club: Annual Pottery Exhibition

The Esperance Potters Club invites you to their highly anticipated Annual Pottery Exhibition, a celebration of artistic excellence and community spirit. This year’s exhibition showcases a stunning array of ceramic pieces, from functional wares to sculptural works, each crafted with skill and passion by our talented local potters.

Join us for a captivating exploration of art and nature through the lenses of two visionary artists, Vivian and Krystal Obschonka. Vivian’s journey began with an intention to challenge societal norms of feminine beauty, merging painted models seamlessly into the landscapes of Australia. Through his lens, he invites viewers to contemplate our shared origins and the profound connection between women's bodies and the Earth.

Krystal's artistic voyage started with a lifelong love affair with the untouched coastal lands of Adelaide, Kalgoorlie, and Esperance. From her humble beginnings in pottery to becoming a seasoned lecturer and ceramic artist, Krystal's work is infused with the essence of nature's forms and shapes. Inspired by the marine biologist Ernst Haeckel, her pieces reflect the intricate beauty of oceanic elements, capturing the essence of water, wind, and climatic erosions.

Together, Vivian’s and Krystal's artworks offer a profound reflection on our relationship with the natural world, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the beauty and complexity of our environment. Don't miss this unique exhibition that celebrates the interconnectedness of art, humanity, and the Earth.

An exhibition of textiles, ceramics, jewellery, sculptures, drawings and prints by renowned artists Mylene van Heijster and Naomi Stanitzki.

From Debris to Art: A Unique Showcase

An exhibition that transcends art's boundaries, resonating deeply with our commitment to community, environmental consciousness, and creative expression.

At the heart of this exhibition lies a profound transformation. Marine plastic, often seen as a blight on our shores, finds new life as stunning art pieces. These creations, born from dedication and creativity, will be on display at the Cannery Arts Centre in the Art Room Gallery. Every artwork on display will be available for sale, with all proceeds contributing to Tangaroa Blue, an organization championing marine environment preservation.

The Cannery Arts Centre and Southern Ports presents Sirens, Selkies, and Sea Monsters: Exploring Myth & Marine Conservation Exhibition

Dive into this extraordinary exhibition and be part of an immersive exploration of myth and marine conservation

Unicorns Gambit is an exhibition made to explore all things weird. Come along as Jamie Coyle and Paige Fillmore investigate the mysterious ways of a world unknown to us, where colours are wild, creatures are bizarre and landscapes mysterious.

Are you excited for spring and wildflowers? Well so is the Cannery Arts Centre, with a special exhibition from the 24th of September to the 8th of October. ‘Colours of Nature’ celebrates the individual journeys of exploring the colours nature creates.

Australia Wide Eight is a touring exhibition showcasing the work of Ozquilt Network Members on tour 2022-2024

Australia Wide Eight is a travelling exhibition organized by Ozquilt Network (OZQN) on tour nationally from July 2022 to August 2024 and as a virtual exhibition on the OZQN website. The exhibition is designed to showcase the talents of OZQN members, introduce members’ quilts to a broader audience, demonstrate the scope and variety of art quilt making, and publicize OZQN.

MICROSCOPIC 1
©2022 Rebecca Wolske
Boronia, Victoria
Price: A$495
Statement: A simple leaf, look closer! Under the microscope it looks so different, Nothing like the leaf we see with our naked eye, individual cells, almost like a bee hive, it seems almost from another world.

From Thursday 8th of June to Monday 19th of June, the Cannery Arts Centre is hosting an incredible exhibition that showcases the beauty and importance of our oceans.

Come and explore during gallery hours from Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, and on weekends from 12 pm to 4 pm. Immerse yourself in stunning marine life displays and learn about sustainable fishing and the importance of protecting our marine ecosystems.

Let's come together and make a difference for our oceans. Spread the word and invite your friends and family to this enlightening exhibition.

Together, we can create a better future for our planet and the marine life that calls it home.

Mangkaja Arts Resource Agency (MARA) in Fitzroy Crossing was severely affected by the record-breaking flooding of the Fitzroy River catchment area in January 2023. The flood caused extensive damage to buildings, with an estimated 5% of the artworks in storage destroyed and numerous others needing restoration.  

The Cannery Arts Centre has waived its usual gallery fee, and 80% of sales will go directly to MARA. If purchasing artwork is not an option, supporters can still help by donating to Mangkaja's tax-deductible GoFundMe campaign. 

Curate-a-Wall is a multidisciplinary space where artists can curate their work on the walls of the Jetty Gallery located at the front of the Cannery Arts Centre in Kepa Kurl / Esperance on Wudjari boodja. A new initiative, this platform offers artists the opportunity to display a small exhibit of new/old work for visitors to the Cannery to enjoy and purchase.

The Cannery Arts Centre proudly presents the free exhibition 'Sixteen Legs'. A mix of art and science, highlighting the environmental and cultural significance of Australia's deepest caves opening.

The Esperance Pottery Club, based from our pottery room situated at the Cannery Arts Centre, Is excited to present this display of work by local potters and artisans. This exhibition features a variety of functional and decorative pottery pieces, all for sale.

The Cannery Arts Centre in conjunction with its sponsors is pleased to bring you the Esperance Art Awards for 2022. Formerly known as the Esperance Biennial Art Awards, there are a total of 10 Award Categories open to any artist living in the Esperance-Goldfields region (Esperance, North to Kalgoorlie, West to Ravensthorpe/Hopetoun and East to Balladonia/Beaumont).