BRISBANE, QLD – July 18, 2025 – The opening of a new group exhibition at Wentworth Galleries in Brisbane became a powerful celebration of art, family, and community last night, anchored by a heartfelt speech from featured artist Debra Hutton. The exhibition, showcasing the diverse talents of Hutton, Colin Passmore, and Megan Puls, was transformed into an emotional gathering that highlighted the deep connections that art can foster.
Gallery Manager Freya Black officially opened the exhibition, beginning with a traditional acknowledgement of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples. She praised the unique contributions of each artist, describing Colin Passmore’s work as “quiet meditations on place and life,” Megan Puls’ as “fluid porcelain forms,” and celebrated Debra Hutton’s contribution as a “layered visual language shaped by memory, gesture and the legacy of the 1960s.”
Following the introduction, featured artist Debra Hutton took the floor, offering her heartfelt praise for her colleagues. She expressed personal admiration for the incredible patience required to create Puls’s unique, hand-drilled sculptural pieces. Hutton also extended immense gratitude to the Wentworth Galleries team for curating the space with such emotion and for bringing the gallery’s esteemed legacy from Sydney to Brisbane.
However, the speech’s most poignant moments came when Hutton revealed the exhibition had sparked a family reunion 45 years in the making. With several cousins in attendance whom she had not seen since childhood, she spoke on how families can drift apart after the older generation passes.
“To me, this has been very special,” Hutton shared with the audience. “We’re all wearing a piece of something that reminds us of our mums tonight. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.”
In a remarkable story of serendipity, she explained how a conversation between her partner and a friend led to reconnecting with one of her long-lost cousins, who was then able to join the family at the opening. The event reminded us that art is not just about the work on the walls, but about the human stories and relationships that unite us all. The exhibition is now open to the public.
On at Wentworth Galleries, Brisbane (100 George Street, Queen’s Wharf 4000)
The exhibition runs from 18 July to 27 July 2025
Gallery details here: https://www.wentworthgalleries.com.au/
