Artist in Focus
Solveig
For Solveig, art has never been about fitting neatly inside categories. A lifelong painter, psychologist, curator, and creative force based in Mullumbimby, her work fuses the emotional resonance of Impressionism with a distinctly graphic sensibility she calls ‘graphic impressionism.’ Colour, movement, and light become tools not just of representation, but of feeling.
Born in Sydney in 1952, Solveig studied painting and sculpture at the National Art School during the height of Australia’s psychedelic era, absorbing the influence of artists such as Martin Sharp and John Olsen. Over decades of practice, motherhood, study, and self-reflection, her work evolved into a deeply intuitive exploration of nature, consciousness, and healing.
That belief in art as a healing force now extends beyond her own practice through the H’Art Gallery at Mullumbimby Comprehensive Health Centre, which she curates as a space showcasing Northern Rivers artists across painting, printmaking, and mixed media. Under Solveig’s guidance, the gallery has become an unexpected cultural hub — bringing contemporary local art into a public health setting where creativity, conversation, and wellbeing intersect.
Her own works in Exhibition 12 range from luminous botanicals to abstract neural landscapes, all carrying her signature interplay of colour vibration and layered form.
‘Art doesn’t just decorate a health centre,’ Solveig says, ‘It heals it.’
Black Fig Gallery
Black Fig Gallery has an exquisite treat in store for you in their upcoming show The Civilising Skirt, opening on 5 June.
Omie tapa, or beaten bark cloth, was there at the very beginning of time when the first woman on earth – Saja, created the very first wrap-around tapa skirt. After the Omie people of remote PNG ceased holding the very detailed tattooing sessions for initiating teenage boys into manhood, their tattoo motifs were transferred onto tapa. All of nature is on display in this exhibition from our nearest neighbour PNG.
Marvel at this rare and unusual offering, or book a private champagne floor–talk with Joan Winter from 4pm on Friday 5 June.
0480 676 957
www.blackfiggallery.com.au
@blackfiggallery
Shop 7 Alstonville Plaza, Alstonville
Byron Writers Festival
Byron Writers Festival celebrates 30 years, and is set to take over Byron Bay from Friday, 14 to Sunday, 16 August, unfolding across several iconic venues to create a bustling festival precinct.
Featuring over 110 sessions across three days, the world-class event will bring together the best local, national and international writers on Bundjalung Country.
Headline authors include internationally bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe, Trent Dalton, who returns with his latest novel Gravity Let Me Go, and International Booker Prize-winner Geetanjali Shree, whose ground-breaking novel Tomb of Sand became the first book written in Hindi to win the prestigious prize.
Expect a highly immersive festival experience, with three-day, single-day, and feature event passes available, plus free events all weekend.
Tickets are on sale at www.byronwritersfestival.com
Image credit: Luke Close, oil on canvas,76 x 100 cm
Image courtesy the artist © The artist.
The Caldera
Regional artist Luke Close (Githabal) is passionate about his arts practice and sources information from people, places and most importantly the land. His latest series of paintings feature regions of the Caldera he visits often, and honours his connection to place and Aboriginal culture.
A Tweed Regional Gallery initiative and outcome of the PLATFORM program.
10am to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday
2 Mistral Road (corner Tweed Valley Way),
Murwillumbah South.
ART GALLERIES
ARTIST STUDIO GALLERY
Belongil Beach
Open by appointment
0409 604 405
janrae7.weebly.com
ARTIST’S STUDIO GALLERY
Byron Bay
Landscape inspired works imparting a
‘spirit of place’
Open by appointment
Monthly specials
02 6685 5317
jaypearse.com
BANGALOW FiNE ART
Consultancy / Sales / Valuations
bangalowfineart.com.au
BLACK FIG GALLERY
Exhibiting Northern Rivers artists
Shop 7, Alstonville Plaza
Wednesday to Friday 10am–4pm and
Saturday 10am–2pm
(or by appointment) 0480 676 957
blackfiggallery.com.au
@blackfiggallery
BYRON CLAY WORKERS GALLERY
Fairview Studios
Open 10am–4pm
Saturdays and Sundays
John Stewart
0406 404 335
byronclayworkersgallery.com.au
BLUE KNOB
719 Blue Knob Road, Lillian Rock
Open Thursday to Sunday 10am–3pm
02 6689 7449
blueknobgallery.com
BURRINGBAR GALLERY
Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am–4pm
(or by appointment)
0408 998 446
6184 Tweed Valley Way, Burringbar
byronclayworkersgallery.com.au
GALLERY COSMOSIS
Visionary Art
22 Brigantine Street, Byron Bay
Open Thursday to Saturday
10.30am–3pm
or by appointment 0431 331 205
gallerycosmosis.com
GARAGE GALLERY
‘Community Arts Hub’
(Byron Community College)
Cnr Gordon & Burringbar Streets, Mullumbimby
02 6684 3374
@mullum.garage.gallery
H’ART GALLERY
Local art in the heart of Mullum at Mullumbimby Comprehensive Health Centre
60 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby
0401 647 325
HAVEN GALLERY
102 Jonson St, Byron Bay
Open 10am-8pm – seven days a week
KARENA WYNN-MOYLAN, FINE ART
World award-winning contemporary realism art direct from the artist at her Bangalow Studio
Phone or text 0414 822 196
LISMORE REGIONAL GALLERY
11 Rural St, Lismore, Bundjalung Country
Open Wednesday to Sunday
10am–4pm
Thursdays until 6pm
lismoregallery.org
@lismoreregionalgallery
LONE GOAT GALLERY
28 Lawson St, Byron Bay
(located in the Byron Library building)
Open Wednesday to Saturday
10am–4pm
lonegoatgallery.com
M-Arts Precinct
Spend the day, meet the makers,
shop local and handmade
105 Wollumbin St, Murwillumbah
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am
@m.arts.precinct
m-arts.com.au/
MULLUMBIMBY
CLAYWORKERS GALLERY
Drill Hall Complex,
2 Jubilee Ave, Mullumbimby
Open Thursday to Saturday 11am–3pm
mullumclayworkers.com
MZ GALLERY
Byron Bay Contemporary Artspace
57 Tennyson Street, Byron Bay
0468 718 045
www.byronartspace.com.au
Ninbella Gallery
Open Mon-Sat 10-4pm & Sun 10-2pm
19a Byron Street Bangalow
0429 357 274
ninbella.com
NORTHERN RIVERS COMMUNITY GALLERY
Cnr Cherry & Crane Streets, Ballina
Open Wed–Fri 9am–3pm,
Sat–Sun 9.30am–1pm
02 6681 0530
nrcgballina.com.au
TWEED REGIONAL GALLERY
& MARGARET OLLEY Art Centre
Gallery hours Wed–Sun 10am–4pm
Café open Wed-Fri 10am–4 pm,
Sat-Sun 9am–4pm
2 Mistral Rd, Murwillumbah
02 6670 2790
gallery.tweed.nsw.gov.au
