Welcome to the Serpentine Community Gallery Website
Welcome to the Serpentine Community Gallery Website
Embedded Files
Here you can find out what's on, what's been on, and what's coming.
Bulaanglii - Coming Together
Bulaanglii - Coming Together
A group exhibition showcasing Aboriginal Artists residing in the Northern Rivers.
Exhibition opens 3 - 7pm on Saturday 10th May and runs until Friday 23rd of May 2025
Featured artwork : Where We Gather by Kirstin Townsend-Gailer, acrylic on canvas, 100x70cm
Strength, Love & Joy by Philippa Leader
Strength, Love & Joy by Philippa Leader
on exhibition from 24th April until 3rd May 2025
The opening night for Strength, Love and Joy – an exhibition of works by local treasure Phillipa Leader, is from 5.30 till 8.30pm on Thursday the 24th of April.
Philippa Leader was a Northern Rivers artist for over 30 years and was one of the alternative artists to move to the area in the early 80’s. This exhibition is a celebration of her life as an artist and commitment to the arts in our region. Philippa was a local art teacher who explored diverse mediums such as fibre art, sculpture, drawing and painting.
For the past decade Philippa faced a terminal illness that ultimately took her life in 2024. This exhibition is a showcase of Philippa’s life work. Sixty hand painted pieces form “The Book of Strengths” which is presented as a collection as a card set of the 60 paintings each with words of inspiration, each card with a unique meaning that formed Philippa’s philosophy. The exhibition will be the launch of “The book of strengths” card pack, with the original paintings as well as a display of her private collection of her own work.
Unrule
Unrule
Opening Event: 5.30 till 8.30pm on Friday the 4th of April 2025.
Unrule: This unique exhibition brings together a curated collection of autistic artists from both local and national stages, showcasing a vibrant spectrum of creative expression. Unrule is a celebration of thinking differently, where bold ideas and alternative perspectives take center stage.
Opening night will feature performances, silent auctions, and opportunities to support the Light Up Autism Foundation. Don't miss this rare glimpse into the boundless creativity and power of neurodiverse minds.
Proudly Sponsored by:
Southern Cross University & The Neuro Play Hub
Her Art Works
Her Art Works
"Her Art Works" – A Celebration of Women’s Creativity in the Northern Rivers.
"Her Art Works" – A Celebration of Women’s Creativity in the Northern Rivers.
In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Serpentine Community Art Gallery proudly presents "Her Art Works", a dynamic and diverse exhibition showcasing the incredible talents of women artists. Held in Lismore, this community-driven event celebrates the depth, strength, and storytelling power of women’s artistic expression across mosaic, charcoal, pastel, drawing, painting, textile, weaving, and ceramics.
Women have always been creators—shaping culture, crafting narratives, and bringing visions to life. "Her Art Works"honours that legacy, presenting an inspiring collection that ranges from the bold textures of woven fibres to the intricate shimmer of mosaic. Expressive paintings capture moments of resilience and joy, charcoal sketches lay bare raw emotion, and hand-formed ceramics embody the strength and delicacy of the human touch. Each piece tells a story of identity, heritage, and the powerful connections between art, community, and womanhood.
This exhibition is a testament to the richness of women’s artistic voices—fierce, delicate, experimental, and deeply rooted in tradition. It brings together emerging and established artists, each contributing a unique perspective, yet united by a shared commitment to creative expression.
More than an exhibition, "Her Art Works" is a space to reflect, to celebrate, and to champion the contributions of women in the arts. Join us in Lismore to experience this remarkable showcase of talent, resilience, and artistic brilliance.
Martina Driftwood, woven sculpture photographed by Raimond DeWeerdt
Rainbow of my heart by Michelle campbell, hand dyed raffia, lomandra 29 x 32cms
Patterns of Entanglement
- Contemporary Woven and Stitched Objects.
Curated by Sue Connor (Playing With Fibre)
and Shel Sweeney ( A Weaving Life)
Opening Night: 14th Feb 5:30-8:30
on show until the 1st of March 2025
Our Blurb
Follow the entanglement of fibre back at least 12,000 years to the Neolithic era and we find weaving that carries things, makes homes or serves some other practical uses in the patterns of daily life. Weaving is part of most cultures' heritage. The patterns of entanglement represented by this group of artists, from a random collection of fibres to more intentionally curated patterns, serve similar practical uses, some were made ritualistically, some purely aesthetic, all involve the use of ancient skills in traditional and contemporary ways. Today, weaving is limited only by our imaginations and many of our weavers push at the edges of the art form as they explore and expand their own patterns of entanglement.
This exhibition invites you to consider the many threads of your own life, your own cultural heritage, your own daily rhythms, and to see the patterns of entanglement of which you are a part.
2024 was a great year at Serpentine - take a trip down memory lane.
2024 was a great year at Serpentine - take a trip down memory lane.
Artwork featured is R.G.B by Ziggy Love, acrylic on board, 30x39cm
This website is a massive work in progress. There is so much appreciation to the volunteers at the gallery who give some time and skills to the upkeep of this website. It is currently being rebuilt. Apologies for any broken links. If there is something you are specifically looking for just 'search this website'. This bypasses the broken links we are working on. BIg thanks for your patience from the team.
Everything below this point is old exhibition details ready to be filed into the website. :)
Feel free to browse. :)
...
***
The Serpentine, the 2017 Lismore flood and the gallery gofundme campaign
31st March 2017 -
The biggest/highest flood Serpentine has experienced in its 11 years. (Sign looks good though!)
Serpentine windows prior to the flood,
Art Auction pieces left & artworks by Lismore Art Club members right,
.. and during the flood centre.
Upcoming Exhibitions & Events
You are invited to the opening of
"Fall",
an exhibition which explores a movement;
an action towards a change;
to fall in love;
the fall of an empire;
to fall into bed or out of favour;
to fall into the darkness or into the light.
This is another fabulous group show
by members of the Serpentine Community Gallery
presenting a range of artworks
including sculpture, paintings, drawings
and ceramics exploring this theme.
Bring a plate and come and enjoy the show.
Refreshments available.
What: Opening Night Function
When: Friday 6 April 2018 at 6:00 pm
"Fall" runs until the 30th of April 2018.
***
on view 4/5/18 - 29/5/18.
Vicki Swift 1946 - 2017
An exhibition celebrating the life and career
of a respected artist and well loved member of our community.
Opens on Friday 4th May 2018, 6-8.30pm.
Please join us on opening night to see a retrospective of Vicki's exquisite works.
***
As part of the Lismore Women’s Festival 2018
the Serpentine Community Gallery presents
"Woman",
a group show celebrating the many creative women in our region. We have been thrilled & overwhelmed
by the response we’ve had to our call-out for 'Woman'
& are very excited to be able to showcase the talent
& dedication of women artists of the Northern Rivers.
Coordinator of Lismore Women’s Festival,
the fabulous Emma Newman will open the show
at 6.30pm on Friday the 2nd of March 2018.
All are welcome to attend this celebration of women in the arts.
Refreshments available.
'Woman' runs from the 2nd to the 19th of March 2018.
***
From the 9th to the 23rd of February 2018
the Serpentine Community Gallery is pleased to be the venue for
- a group show
by local ceramic artists
and Regina Majchrzak.
The opening celebration
will take place on
Friday the 9th of February 2018,
from 6pm to 8.30pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
Light refreshments available.
***
- a group show by Liz Dowling, Jo Kelly and Kate Naylor -
opens at the Serpentine Community Gallery
on Friday the 26th of January 2018, from 5-8pm.
"We are three artists
and art psychotherapists
who are creating an exhibition
to show how transformative
the creative process can be
in transcending life’s struggles
and celebrating its triumphs.
“Transformation” intends to explore
our individual artistic development
using art therapy
and to promote Art Therapy
in the Northern Rivers Community."
"Transformation"
will be on view until
the 5th of February 2018.
***
We're very excited about our last members' exhibition for the year
"Azure"
- exploring all things blue from
the oceans to the sky - a colour of peacefulness during the hectic times
at the end of the year.
We are looking forward
to transforming the gallery into
a sea of calm and tranquility.
Exhibition opens on
Friday the 1st of December 2017,
5pm till 8pm.
Local band 'Havoc' will perform
dynamic Latin, Gypsy and Blues music
at the opening celebration.
Come to the opening and invite
your friends and family to enjoy
our end of year event. It's been a
big year of renewal and growth.
Artists are also invited
to bring some food for the table
to share with friends and guests.
"Azure"
will be on view until
20th January 2018.
***
Bubbles @ Serpentine Community Gallery
In celebration of love and diversity
in our community the gallery was open on
Friday the 29th of December 2017 from 2pm for
pre Tropical Fruits Street Parade refreshments.
Jex Lopez entertained us with her music.
***
The Serpentine Community Gallery
is very proud to be hosting
solo exhibitions of the recent works
of two North Rivers artists.
Kerry Negus's "Soul of the Soil"
and
Robyn Staines' "Forgotten Names"
open at 6pm on Friday the 3rd of November 2017.
Everyone is welcome to attend
the combined opening celebration.
Light refreshments available,
On view until 20th November.
***
"Faith, Joy & Other Disasters"
is the theme for a group show
by artists of the Northern Rivers.
Open to interpretation by the artist
and the viewer, the theme was presented
by Lindsay Hunt. One of Serpentine's
long-standing members and recent
committee member, Lindsay is moving
abroad with his family and we wish them well.
This exhibition is in his honour
as a prolific artist and proactive member
of our local arts community.
Opening night is Friday
the 6th of October 2017, at 6pm.
Refreshments available.
Everyone is welcome.
"Faith, Joy &
Other Disasters"
is on view until 30th October.
***
Opening on the 22nd of September 2017, from 6pm,
"SubTerania: Subliminal Terrain"
is a new body of work from local visual artist Benjamin Jai.
Artworks in "SubTerania" give a sense of space,
allowing for the subtleties of paint to emerge
through colour, line, texture and reflective effects.
'Darklands'
Everyone is welcome to attend the opening event.
Light refreshments available.
This exhibition will be on view until the 2nd of October 2017.
***
Serpentine Community Gallery
is proud to offer
an opportunity to exhibit in
"Yang"
- an exhibition investigating and celebrating
the masculine energy Yang
and it's many MANifestations.
Opening on
Friday the 25th of August 2017,
from 6pm,
this exhibition will run
until 18th September.
Image: Artwork by Jackson Gooch
'Tentacle'
oil on board
by Prudence Lawrence
'Lovely Neighbourhood'
acrylic on canvas
by Michael Chapus
'One of Our Greatest Achievements'
acrylic on canvas
by Michael Chapus
untitled cats diptych
oil on canvas
by Christine Robinson
(donated by Lindsay Hunt)
'Melting Monarch'
acrylic, ink on ply panel
by Lindsay Hunt
A great success thanks to the generous donating artists
and the enthusiastic, art-loving bidders.
Congratulations to the winners.
***
- one of our most popular exhibitions -
is back on the calendar
and will take place
during July/August.
This year the theme is
an exploration into
Sexuality, Love, Lust
and the Erotic.
Opening on
Friday 21st July 2017,
with a celebration from 6pm,
Scarlet
will be on view
until the 22nd of August.
***
A group show entitled
opens on Friday the 23rd of June 2017, at 6pm,
This exhibition explores
the political climate and current issues
through the eyes of local artists.
On view until the 18th of July 2017.
Open to artists of the Northern Rivers.
An invitation to have your say.
Get it off your chest. Share your views.
In a world of uncertainty let's get some clarity.
The voices of artists throughout history document, interpret and comment on the political climate.
This will be an interesting exhibition
of interesting times
***
From the 9th to the 21st June 2017,
the Serpentine Community Gallery
is pleased to be the venue for
an art show presented by
four unique artists
'It takes a village to raise an artist'.
Showcasing artworks by
Ochre Doyle,
Mika Burnet
and Kerrie Divett,
this multifaceted exhibition opens on
Friday the 9th of June,
5pm for 5.30pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend
the opening celebration.
Light refreshments will be available.
'It takes an artist to raise a village'
will be on view until the 21st of June.
***
From the 17th of May to the 3rd of June 2017,
the Serpentine Community Gallery will present
Leigh Arnold's solo exhibition
"Dimensions".
Able to visualize form and structure in a way that most others cannot, Lismore-based artist Leigh
can take a simple object like a cube,
and by use of perspective and colour manipulation
he creates a world which displays precise order
in incredible complexity.
The opening celebration
will be on Friday the 26th of May, from 5pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
Light refreshments will be available.
***
Post Flood Update - 8th May 2017
We are happy to announce that
repairs to our flood damaged gallery premises at 17a Bridge St are well underway,
and we hope to be fully operational again in the very near future.
22 April 2017 - Organised by the building's owners asap,
plasterer Greg replaces the water-buckled internal walls
5-12 May 2017 - Serpentine crew paints the new walls
and re-installs the hanging rails
The Serpentine, the 2017 Lismore flood and the gallery gofundme campaign
Thursday 30 March at 23:01
- Facebook post by Guy Ingram:
Quick update...
We (Guy and Marilyn J. Smith) went to the gallery before dark
and lifted everything we could above desk height or higher.
At that point, prediction was for 11m and the gallery floor is around 10.1 or 10.2m.
If it goes to the new peak prediction of 11.5m, issued later Thursday night,
some things are going to get wet.
Fingers crossed the water stops rising, hey....
The Serpentine Community Gallery and part of the NSW town of Lismore
as seen from the air on the morning of Friday the 31st of March 2017.
Photo: Rotorwing Helicopter Services - Facebook
Serpentine gallery as seen from the street
Photo: Facebook post
by Corrine Batt-Rawden, 31 March 2017
***
From the 22nd of March until the 2nd of April 2017
the Serpentine Community Gallery
will be the venue for an exhibition
showcasing artworks by members of
The opening celebration will take place on
Friday the 24th of March 2017
- 6.00pm for 6.30pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
***
In conjunction with the
inaugural Lismore Women's Festival,
the Serpentine Community Gallery
is hosting an exhibition celebrating
If you are a local artist who identifies as a woman
you are invited to participate.
Official Opening with guest speakers and
a concert entitled "Listening to Wom*n" is from
6-9pm on Friday 10th March 2017.
Exhibition runs from 3rd-20th March 2017.
For more information follow the exhibition link above.
Oh what a night, the opening of the exhibition 'Woman - In all her forms' and 'Listening to Wom*n' the concert.
It was a full house and a wonderful evening.
***
Opening at the Serpentine Community Gallery
on Friday 27th January 2017, from 7pm,
local artist Lindsay Hunt
presents a solo show in two parts.
In gallery 1, his latest body of work
- “Ich hab dich leib (platonic love for)
Arnold Böcklin's 'Isle of the Dead'”-
is inspired by the 19th century Swiss
symbolist’s influential series of paintings.
While in gallery 2,
“Celebrating 25 years as an exhibiting artist”
will provide exhibition goers with a thoughtfully
selected range of works created throughout
this contemporary Australian artist’s career.
Everyone is welcome to attend the opening, or drop by to view the show which runs until 25 Feb 2017.
***
From the 7th December 2016
until the 24th January 2017,
the Serpentine Community Gallery presents
- a Christmas Show featuring artworks by members with a theme of miniatures/smalls.
The opening celebration
will take place on Friday
the 9th of December 2016, from 7pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
* ALSO ON VIEW AT THE SERPENTINE DURING "MINIATURES" *
The people have spoken and the winners of the 2016 Serpentine People’s Choice Award are:
1st - Michael Clifton's striking oils on canvas piece ‘Gaia in Chains’,
winning $200 donated by the Serpentine,
2nd - Gilbert Laurie's stunning acrylic on board work 'Booragah Boothrum',
winning a $100 voucher donated by Armistead's Quality Picture Framing and Gallery
3rd - Kim Coleman's gorgeous little watercolour ‘With Humour In My Pocket‘
winning a $50 art supplies voucher donated by Premier Art and Framing.
'Gaia in Chains'
by Michael Clifton
'Booragah Boothrum'
by Gilbert Laurie
'With Humour In My Pocket'
by Kim Coleman
‘We’d like to thank our local businesses and community for the support
that enables us to do such great things as a People’s Choice Award.’
***
On 10 December 1948 the UN Council adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Each year this date is commemorated by
International Human Rights Day.
To mark the day, Dutch organisation
'Global Village Artists Network' (stichting White Cube) has created a truly worldwide project.
Not only have video-artists
from all over the globe contributed,
they have also arranged for Global Videos
to be shown simultaneously at 16 venues worldwide.
As the Australian venue for
this worldwide video-art exhibition,
Lismore’s Serpentine Community Gallery
is pleased to invite everyone to the screening of
on International Human Rights Day
– Saturday 10th December 2016.
Doors open at 7pm,
Global Videos starts at 7.30pm.
Length: 2 hours
including a short intermission.
Light refreshments will be available.
***
Celebrating a decade of arts and community,
the Serpentine Community Gallery proudly presents
"Decadence".
To be opened by Arts Northern Rivers CEO Peter Wood
on Friday the 4th of November 2016, the exhibition
"Decadence"
will be on view until the 3rd of December.
The opening celebration, from 7pm-11pm, will feature
special guest musicians and performing artists
as well as a People's Choice Award.
Dress Decadently - prizes for best dressed.
Everyone is invited to join us
to celebrate the Gallery's 10th birthday.
Refreshments available.
"Decadence" opening: An exuberant crowd of art-lovers dropped by the gallery to enjoy the art and help celebrate the Serpentine's 10th birthday
***
A great weekend at the gallery
Friday the 14th of October's combined opening celebration
for Dougal Binn's "Take Shape" and
Franco's Girardi's "From Farm Punk to Plinth"
was a huge success, with the gallery filled by delighted
and appreciative art-loving members of the community.
Thanks to all who contributed to this magical evening.
Introducing the talented and enthusiastic members of our new management committee, voted in at
the Serpentine's Annual General Meeting
held on Saturday 15th October 2016.
Clockwise from top left: Martyn Fox, Fiona McConnachie, Corinne Batt-Rawden, Theodore Kennett-Raj, Guy Ingram, Ken Swan,
We give our appreciation for a job well done and the very best of best wishes to out-going committee members, including stalwart Michael Clifton.
While he will still be helping to run
the gallery as a volunteer, Michael (pictured manning the phone amidst
the buzz of Franco and Dougal's opening celebration) says he will now be able to dedicate more of his time
to making art. A win for us all!
***
On view at the Serpentine between
the 5th and the 31st of October 2016
is local sculptor Franco Girardi's
For the duration of his solo show,
Gallery 2 will showcase
a selection of costumes, 'weapons'
and installations featuring Franco's
"trademark" sheep shears.
From the 14th to the 28th of October 2016,
the Serpentine Community Gallery
will be the venue for
- a solo exhibition showcasing recent works by
local graphic designer and illustrator Dougal Binns.
'Wojoox' - 90x90cm, 2015 - by Dougal Binns
Prior to their solo
'Sunburst' by Franco Girardi
shows, artists Dougal Binns and Franco Girardi met up at the gallery to discuss a combined opening celebration, and soon got talking about
their individual approaches to art.
***
Showcasing works
by the generous individuals
that keep the Serpentine running,
"Vollies"
is a gift to our volunteers for
their work and commitment
to this community gallery.
Part 2: 1-12 Oct - Gallery 1
Many thanks to all.
***
Showcasing works
by the generous individuals that keep the Serpentine running,
"Vollies"
is a gift to our volunteers for
their work and commitment
to this community gallery.
Part 1: 5-30 Sept - Gallery 2
Many thanks to all.
From the 5th to the 30th of September 2016,
the Serpentine Community Gallery presented
two solo shows by local artists -
Anna Dorrington's "Fairytales"
and
Zac Theroux's "A work in Progress"
- together with a group show entitled "Vollies".
Anna Dorrington's interests lie in the area of feminist critiques
of the history of women in society in the 1960s and 1970s,
and the effects these social conditions have had
on contemporary constructions of society and women.
Zac Theroux, who takes his inspiration from the world around him,
and worlds within him, is bringing his art out to play.
Walking the knife's edge between dark and light,
his vibrant, provocative subjects both shock and intrigue.
A combined
opening celebration
for these three shows
took place on Sunday 11th of September,
from 2pm.
Everyone
was welcome
to attend.
***
"X"
- a members' exhibition
celebrating 10 years of
the diverse arts community
in NSW's Northern Rivers -
opens at 2pm on
Sunday 31st July 2016.
Everyone is welcome.
We are celebrating
everything Serpentine
and everything '10'.
Continues throughout
August 2016.
***
From the 7th to the 27th of July 2016
the Serpentine Community Gallery was pleased to host
"Instances: the art of the maker"
- a solo show by local artist Jeremy Austin,
Byron Bay RAW: 2014 Visual Artist of the Year.
The artist and one of his works
***
In late June and early July
the Serpentine Community Gallery
was the venue for
- a retrospective exhibition by
local artist Vicki Swift.
Drawing inspiration from her surroundings,
Vicki Swift’s work is reflective
of the relationship between
nature and the self,
and captures the essence and the feeling
of being within the landscape.
A percentage of proceeds
was generously donated to
(The NSW Wildlife Information,
Rescue and Education Service Inc).
***
Promoting the freedom of expression
which Art is all about,
- an exhibition of artworks by gallery members -
was on view from
27th May to 24th June 2016.
'Fallen Angel'
by Alison Mead
The gallery is pleased to
announce that the
painting pictured above
is to be auctioned at
the opening event for
'Under the Radar'.
Proceeds of the auction will be donated to both the Serpentine Community Gallery and Heartfelt House; a Northern Rivers
organisation that aims
to provide support for
adult survivors of childhood
sexual abuse as well as
their family and friends.
Alison Mead will also be exhibiting photographic works, which relate to this issue of giving a voice to the victims of this 'silent crime'.
As artists, our works often have political overtones, sometimes our images become a social record or even
a subconscious perception of the forces about us.
'Under the Radar' will explore the possibilities of social
and political activism, personal reaction
and the notion of 'protest' art.
So come join us in exercising our democratic right
to express, protest, revolutionize and liberate!
***
From the 6th to the 20th May 2016,
the Serpentine Community Gallery
was pleased to present
- a solo show by
artist Leon Mahony,
featuring 'high resolution
vector graphic illustration
drawn for your pleasure' -
and
- a showcase of artworks by
RealArtWorks Inc.
artists' collective
plus
refugees awaiting
appropriate status.
'The Boat' by Abbas Alaboudi
'Of and Sleep' by Farhad Bandesh
***
The gallery is a not-for-profit organization
started in Nov 2006 by a small group of local artists.
It is dedicated to promoting the
artistic culture of NSW's Northern Rivers region through community arts projects
and regional promotion.
We like to say, 'Have a creative day!'
SERPENTINE COMMUNITY GALLERY
104 Conway Street, Lismore, NSW, 2480.
Contact 0492964819 or gallery@serpentinearts.org
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