Click the image above to download a pdf copy of the room sheet and exhibition essay.

ILLUMINATE / Studio ARTES

DRAW Space is thrilled to present ILLUMINATE / Studio Artes. The exhibition celebrates and shines a light on the artists of Studio ARTES Inner West, a creative studio that offers art, performance, and life skills programs for adults with disability.

Through a diverse collection of creative works, members explore what brings them joy, what is important to them, and what makes them unique. The exhibition offers a glimpse into the diverse experiences, interests, and connections that shape each artist's life, highlighting the creativity and individuality that make them shine. 

ILLUMINATE events

12-2pm Thursday 9 July 2026 – Self Portrait Drawing Workshop with Natalie

11am-1pm Saturday 11 July 2026 – Opening celebration with the artists and friends

Artists at work at Natalie’s Self Portrait Drawing Workshop, 12-2pm Thursday 9 July 2026

“When you let your hand take control, there will be sequins upon sequins.”

Exhibition Essay by Lily Golightly

Where do great ideas come from? And how do great ideas become great artworks? Is it in fact magic, or is there something else going on? I might ask Doug Pratten, who will surely know. Or perhaps Nicole Molineux has some insight. Or Justin Maroney. In fact, I am sure that if I asked any of the wonderful artists at Studio ARTES Inner West, I'd find the answer.

On Thursdays, I am lucky enough to spend time with some of the greatest artists in Sydney at Studio ARTES Inner West. Studio ARTES provides creative programs for adults with intellectual disabilities. It is a place bubbling with ideas, experimentation, and creativity. The studio bursts with life, with wonderful artworks and performances in constant creation. There is something for everyone within the walls of the studio, and the work expresses the diversity of the people who make it. Many of our members communicate in a multitude of ways, and through their art there is the chance to gain a deeper understanding of the artists behind these wonderful and diverse works.

On Thursday afternoons, I like to spend time talking to Doug Pratten about creativity. He has been attending the studio every Thursday since before I started working there. Recently, I asked him how he draws, and he told me, “you make art not by guiding your hand, but by doing it naturally… don’t think about it, let your hand take control.” This easeful and intuitive approach to art making is refreshing and illuminating. Doug incorporates his poetry into his wild and wonderful drawings so we all can enjoy his wisdom. His artworks cover a range of human experiences. He celebrates the delicious parts of life with “Cake to celebrate a good and joyful life”, and the existential in works such as “Road to nowhere from nowhere”. Like any great artist, he knows how to tread both the light and dark and use art as the avenue for understanding everything in between.

Art gives us the opportunity to see the world through another’s eyes. It is especially meaningful when it offers insight into the lives of artists whose work has not always been in the spotlight. In 2026, more and more artists with intellectual disability are being recognised for their work. The 2025 Turner Prize was awarded to Nnena Kula, the first artist with an intellectual disability to win the prize. On Sydenham soil, our own Bridget Kelly was a finalist in the Ravenswood Art Prize, while Sophie Lam and Emily Buckmaster were finalists in the Burwood Art Prize. And now ILLUMINATE offers the chance for our Inner West community to see the excellent art made under the roof of Studio ARTES Inner West.

Last year, during the Movie World exhibition, we were visited at the studio by a celebrity. No, not Reg Mombassa—he came this year. Last year, Anne Pratten—famous muse and sister of Doug Pratten—joined us for Doug’s workshop, which he facilitated as part of the exhibition. Anne spoke beautifully about how much it meant to see Doug’s work, and we were both a bit teary as we watched him lead the workshop. Being able to see your loved ones succeed is a very special thing. When I was in art school, I wish I’d been lucky enough to learn about artists like Natalie Marcinkus, who has such a beautiful and natural way of painting that it is something to delight in. To see her beading practice develop in preparation for this exhibition has been very exciting and shows the dedication and love for art making that sit at the heart of her practice.

This deep love of making is a quality shared by all the artists in this exhibition. They work in long, focused sessions, and many of the artists declare their love for art making openly. Nicole Molineux tells me each week how much she loves to make her work and how much fun she is having. The joy is palpable. It is a great privilege to spend time with such passionate and dedicated artists, and this exhibition gives them a chance to share their work with the wider community and let you love their art too.

Our public-facing exhibitions are the primary opportunity many of these artists have to share their work, and for many of them they had never exhibited before attending the studio. Now, Bridget Kelly has projections on the Sydney Opera House and our Thursday group have a public artwork at Burwood Park. Next, we're thinking Museum of Modern Art—they'd be lucky to have us! But for many of the artists, it’s not just about the fame and the glory, but a chance to tell their story and show who they are with the people in their world.

I spoke to Matilda just before I wrote this and asked her what her art making is about, and she answered me perfectly like the award-winning poet she is:

“The theme of my art is about my feelings and how I feel. I always draw my feelings out. I drew a brick wall about hiding my feelings and it also represents having a boundary to represent personal space... I also always think about my belly a lot. Food is my favourite topic, and that’s why I’m a foodie.” The work in this show is as delicious and varied as the loves of Matilda Thompson and it is above all, an illuminating glimpse into the lives of these artists. We invite you to let the light in from the studio and enjoy the show.