It’s up for debate who coined the phrase, “I may not know much about art, but I know what I like”.
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Regardless, there was certainly a lot to like in Greater Shepparton’s art scene in 2025.
Here are some of the highlights.
Tank tops in his field
On Thursday, February 6, Tank’s Art Gallery celebrated its official opening at 175 Corio St, Shepparton, bringing the surrealist’s 25-year vision into unmistakable view.
That vision was to create a space where community, culture and art could thrive.
On a night of extreme heat, about 200 attendees came, mingled, took photos, ate and drank courtesy of the Shepparton Brewery’s catering, perspired and felt inspired.
After the grand opening, Tank, eager to boost the local arts scene, collaborated with multiple artists and schools to showcase their work.
“(The gallery) will be ever-evolving,” he said.
“The future’s looking bright, and the future for the art scene in Shepparton is getting brighter as well.”
STAG’s 50th year will be a tough act to follow
In March, Shepparton Theatre Arts Group celebrated 50 years of local theatre, inviting all who had been part of its journey to take a bow.
The night highlighted the deep pool of talent STAG has always been able to trawl, including Nicky Pummeroy, Kat Bristol and Andrew Nicholson.
As for the rest of the year, there was never a dull moment for these sprightly stage dwellers.
Take, for example, a not-so-silent night for Christmas in July (sold out), or the Gothic thriller The Woman in Black (sold out).
And with a 35-piece ensemble boasting more bars than a jail, you bet their September production of CHICAGO sold out, too.
Drawing the curtain on 2025 was Seventeen, where adult actors portrayed teenagers.
Come back anytime, Shepparton Festival
Shepparton Festival’s seismic cultural pulse was felt by the entire city from April 4 to 13, showcasing a diverse 10-day program of performances, music, literature and visual arts.
Typically, event organisers would take a break until the next year.
But not in 2025.
In August, Shepparton swapped winter’s chill for a creative heatwave with the launch of the festival’s Winter Weekend.
Events and exhibitions took over the Shepparton Showgrounds and spilled into venues across the city, including the Whiteley Art Party at SAM and the Australian Welsh Male Choir at the Shepparton Brewery.
Central to the festivities was the inaugural Regional Art Fair at the McIntosh Centre, which brought together an eclectic group of artists to showcase and sell their work.
SAM thanked its lucky stars for Whiteley
For non-art lovers, the appeal lay in the fact that he rubbed shoulders with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.
For art lovers, Brett Whiteley was a star in his own right.
The latter gathered at Shepparton Art Museum on June 27 for the sold-out opening of Brett Whiteley: Inside the Studio, a Victorian-exclusive exhibition celebrating the Australian artist’s meteoric rise in the global art scene.
The exhibition was more than just a display; it was a bold, sensory journey through Whiteley’s creative sanctuaries in London, New York and Sydney.
From eye-catchers to head-scratchers, it featured paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics and collages.
Some of which had never been seen by the public.
Brett Whiteley: Inside the Studio closed on October 5 after a blockbuster run that drew thousands to experience the Art Gallery of NSW’s touring exhibition.
Screen time at Kaiela Arts
Kaiela Arts turned heads at one of the nation’s most prestigious Indigenous art events from August 7 to 10.
At the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, a striking collection of limited-edition silkscreen artworks was unveiled by Chloe Jones, Tarn Parker and Georgina Post.
Did it stop there? Absolutely not.
Kaiela Arts went on to establish its own screen-printing facilities, leading to the launch of Kaiela Arts Editions.
And who better to commission the first edition than internationally renowned artist Maree Clarke?
Clarke’s 40 hand-printed works on archival paper and 10 glass prints were a sight to behold at the gallery from November 24 to December 8, marking the official public debut of the groundbreaking initiative.