Flourish: Local Artist Talk and Toast

Join us to explore Flourish and learn more about the art and artists involved at this artist walk and talk. Hear directly from the artists as they each discuss their art practice and share their connection with flowers.

Located across the Bunjil Place Foyer, Flourish brings together the work of four artists from our region who share, through their varying art practices, an enduring fascination and connection with flowers.

Enjoy light refreshments as we celebrate these artists, their practice and outstanding contribution to contemporary art and design in the south-east.

Meet the exhibiting artists:

Janet Matthews
Janet Matthews is a multi-award winning artist exhibiting regularly in Australia and overseas.  She works in colour pencil and graphite with a hand cut layer.   She loves to draw Australia’s botanical and wildlife subjects with intensity, personality and precise details, inspiring viewers to engage with the beauty and uniqueness of our natural world. 
“My art is my passion.  I want to engage and inspire viewers with the beauty and uniqueness of our natural world.”  

Jennie-maree Tempest
Jennie-maree lives in a small coastal village on the Bass Coast of Victoria, she has been working with textiles for over 30 years, she has a Diploma of Textile Arts from Box Hill Institute and has been teaching for many years. She has won multiple awards, sold work worldwide and has had articles published about her work.

I love the flexibility that comes with textiles, I can manipulate the fabric to form whatever shape comes to mind, which gives me the ability to construct beautiful botanical textile art sculptures that are very high in detail. I'm fortunate to live among the beauty of nature with rugged cliffs, planes of scrubs and wild flowers or set around the water. This and my garden inspire me everyday. On my morning walks I check out what is blooming in everyone's garden and pick a sprig or two, I really like to work directly from the reference of a live plant. I pull it apart and unfold petals so I can get a feel for the shape, how the plant is put together and how I want to reproduce it in fibre. I feel my methodology of working through building a piece has gradually become as organic as the nature I am seeking to replicate. My work doesn't seek to make perfect replicas, but rather capture the fleeting soul of the life I see before me. Sometimes that includes imperfections or even elements of decay

Sam Michelle
Sam Michelle is a full-time oil painter based in Blind Bight, VIC, where she lives with her husband and two sons. Drawing from the tradition of still life, her practice explores composition and storytelling through her extensive collection of ceramics, textiles, and homegrown flowers. Inspired by her ever-expanding coastal cottage garden, Michelle’s richly textured paintings capture the beauty of botanical forms. Michelle is Represented by Martin Browne Contemporary (Sydney) and her paintings are held in public and private collections across Australia and beyond.

Somaya Ahmadi
My name is Somaya Ahmadi, and I’m an Afghan migrant who moved to Australia in 2019. From a young age, I had a passion for fashion, often making clothes for my dolls from scrap fabric lying around the house. After settling in Melbourne, I pursued my dream of studying fashion with the guidance of my mentor, Sarah. I am proud to be an alumni of The Social Studio in Apparel, Clothing, and Textile. Today, I run my own label, MAYA AMADI (@maya_amadi on Instagram). 
 

Image left: Sam Michelle, Banksia Hookeria (detail), 2025. Image courtesy the artist. 

Image right: Janet Matthews, Banksia coccinea – Bees and ladybug haven (detail). 2025. Image courtesy the artist.