Bribie Island will become a hub for pastel art this August as artists from Australia, New Zealand, and overseas gather for what the Pastel Society of Australia expects to be its biggest Annual Awards Exhibition yet.
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The exhibition runs from 11 to 23 August at the Matthew Flinders Gallery, Bribie Community Arts Centre, marking the 40th anniversary of the society’s Annual Awards. Visitors can view artworks entered in the exhibition, meet artists and attend free demonstrations highlighting pastel as a fine art medium.
Admission is free throughout the exhibition, giving locals and visitors the chance to experience one of Australia’s longest-running pastel art events.
Four Decades of the Pastel Society of Australia
The Pastel Society of Australia has presented its Annual Awards Exhibition since 1986 as part of its mission to promote pastel as a fine art medium and bring artists together.
Established in 1985 by Ivy and John Jeffery, the society supports artists at all stages of their creative journey. Throughout the year it provides members with opportunities to develop their skills through demonstrations, workshops, exhibitions, competitions, awards and regular gatherings that encourage learning and collaboration.
To mark the awards’ 40th year, this year’s exhibition will also celebrate master pastelists who have made a significant contribution to the medium over the past four decades.
Society secretary Merla Hynes said support from the City of Moreton Bay had been instrumental in bringing the exhibition to Bribie Island. She said the event offers more than an opportunity to view high-quality artwork, providing pastel artists with a chance to connect and share ideas while also encouraging visitors to spend time in the region.
Live Demonstrations Throughout the Exhibition
Alongside the exhibition, visitors can watch experienced pastel artists demonstrate a range of techniques, from portraiture and landscapes to seascapes, dramatic skies and textured mixed-media approaches.
Artists including Louise Corke, Penelope Gilbert-Ng, Karen Christiansen, Anne Yang, Hettie Rowley, Gwendolin Lewis, Tricia Taylor, Christine Clarke, Tricia Reust and Karol Oakley will lead free demonstrations across the exhibition period.
Janet Hayes will also present a live portrait demonstration and host a full-day workshop focused on landscape and seascape sketching and painting.
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A Free Event for the Community
The Matthew Flinders Gallery at the Bribie Community Arts Centre, 191 Sunderland Drive, Banksia Beach, will be open from Tuesday to Sunday between 9am and 4pm throughout the exhibition, with the venue closed on Mondays.
Combining a major national exhibition with free demonstrations and a milestone anniversary, the event offers residents and visitors an opportunity to experience pastel art and meet artists from across Australia and beyond.
Published 5-August-2026
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