Northern Beaches Council is proud to present Garden Variety, a vibrant new exhibition featuring at Manly Art Gallery & Museum (MAG&M) over the summer months.

The exhibition invites visitors to explore the garden as a rich metaphor for our connection to nature, culture and creativity.

Garden Variety features artworks by 5 acclaimed contemporary Australian artists: Natasha Bieniek, Lucy Culliton, Nic Fern, Michael Kempson and Louise Zhang.

The artists’ diverse practices span painting, printmaking and mixed media, each engaging with motifs of gardening, horticulture and landscaping.

Curated to resemble a hanging garden of art, and part of MAG&M’s Collective for Environmental Art & Design (CEAD) program, Garden Variety runs from 5 December 2025 to 15 February 2026. 

Mayor Sue Heins said the exhibition is a celebration of both artistic excellence and environmental reflection.

“Garden Variety is a beautiful reminder of how deeply gardens are woven into our lives, as the exhibition reflects on themes of harmony, control, beauty and the natural world,” Mayor Heins said.

“We’re thrilled to showcase such a talented group of artists whose work speaks to our community’s connection with nature and creativity.”

Highlights include Natasha Bieniek’s miniature oil paintings that capture botanical detail with astonishing precision, and Louise Zhang’s vibrant surreal compositions that blend floral forms with cultural symbolism.

Lucy Culliton, known for her expressive depictions of rural gardens brings a personal touch, while Michael Kempson’s etchings offer layered narratives of landscape and memory.

Nic Fern’s abstract works evoke the emotional resonance of natural forms through texture and colour.

The exhibition also features a temporary display of unique bonsai trees, adding a living element to the gallery space.

For more information, visit our website.

Manly Art Gallery & Museum

West Esplanade Reserve, Manly

Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm

@magamnsw