Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery has two new exhibitions on display until 16 November.
Bienvenido is the first solo exhibition by Mornington Peninsula-based emerging artist Joshua Searle (b. 1998, Australian/Colombian) to be held in a major public gallery. Searle’s work explores his Colombian heritage and diasporic identity as well as broader socio-cultural issues in Australia today. Searle is primarily a painter but also works across sculpture, contemporary jewellery, glass and printmaking – and now, ceramics.
Bienvenido draws on research from Searle’s recent fellowship in Colombia (ISSI Mason Family Trust Fellowship) and the experience of being in his mother’s homeland for the first time. The artist explains:
‘The title Bienvenido (Welcome) comes from the street signs welcoming you to Bogotá, it is the first thing you hear when arriving in a new space and it was how I felt meeting my family in Colombia. It felt like I was arriving home for the first time. This exhibition is a celebration of that journey home.’ Bienvenido also continues the artist’s interest in the impacts of colonisation by examining pre-Columbian artefacts held in museum collections. Inspired by the Indigenous goldsmithing and sculptural traditions Searle researched in Colombia, the exhibition features a new major ceramic work supported by MPRG as well as new and existing paintings and wooden sculptures.
Bienvenido is part of The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery (MPRG) local focus and is curated by Rebecca Owens. The gallery is also showing The Authentic Consequence: Forty years of John Baird.
Nuno’s Southern Hospitality will be serving up great coffee, sandwiches and tasty comfort food with a hometown Texas flair Thursday-Sunday during the exhibition.
During your visit pop into the MPRG Shop, which stocks an extensive range of local Mornington Peninsula made jewellery, ceramics, glass, sculpture and more, as well as limited edition prints. You can also browse a selection of interesting books, cards, and arty toys.
There are school holiday programs for kids, artist and curator talks, and art-making workshops alongside the exhibitions. Visit the website to find out more.
Free Entry
Open 11am-4pm, Tues-Sun Closed Mondays
Image:
Joshua Searle: Bienvenido installation, 2025
Artworks: Querer es poder (love is power) 2025 and Here & There 2025
Courtesy Kinfolk Imagery
For more information click here
