Ocean Magic, a new winter exhibition by local artist Yvonne Fenech, will open at Byron Spaces Gallery on Friday 5 June.
Organisers say, ‘Inspired by decades spent surfing, swimming and living along the Byron coastline, Ocean Magic explores the movement, light and energy of the ocean through a vibrant collection of works celebrating our connection to the sea’.
‘A surfer and swimmer since her youth, Fenech’s artistic practice has long been driven by a deep fascination with the ocean. Her work captures the shifting colours, fluid motion and raw power of waves, from the quiet energy beneath the surface to the intensity of a breaking swell at first light.
‘The ocean continues to inspire me through its energy, movement and light,’ Fenech says. ‘From the changing colours of each season to the forms that emerge beneath the surface, there’s always something new to experience and translate into my work.’
The gallery says, ‘Having first arrived in Byron Bay in the early 1980s, Fenech describes the experience of paddling out at Broken Head as a defining moment in how she sees and paints the ocean. The deep blues and turquoise tones, combined with the force of waves breaking over rocks, continue to influence her visual language today’.
‘Living in the Byron Shire has played a significant role in shaping both her creative process and perspective. Ocean Magic reflects not only the natural beauty of the coastline, but also a sense of nostalgia for Byron’s earlier days, when life centred around creativity, connection and a nature-led lifestyle.
‘Byron Spaces Gallery feels like the perfect home for this exhibition,’ she says. ‘As a community-based space, it reflects the spirit of what Byron has always been about, a place grounded in creativity, simplicity and shared experiences.’
Through this exhibition, Fenech hopes audiences will feel a sense of joy, light and emotional connection, offering a moment to pause and reconnect with the natural world.
‘Ocean Magic is part of the Byron Spaces Gallery seasonal exhibition program, an initiative of the Byron Community Centre that provides free exhibition space for local artists and accessible arts experiences for the community’.
The opening is Friday 5 June from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at the Byron Spaces Gallery, Byron Community Centre (69 Jonson Street, Byron Bay).
‘The exhibition is free to attend and will remain on display weekdays from 10am to 4pm until 5 August 2026.
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