Showcase Gallery opens in Sydney, encouraging creative professionals to show their work

It’s the plight of many creative professionals – while they forge a career based on an impressive body of commercial work, a stunning collection of personal work sits quietly in a closet or within a desktop folder.

A new gallery in an artistic hub of Darlinghurst has opened specifically to bring the personal work of accomplished creative professionals in design, photography, illustration, advertising and the like out of the shadows.

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Showcase Gallery began taking expressions of interest earlier this year and has already attracted the attention of a number of reputed Australian creative professionals, including Sydney-based photographer Mark Mawson, freelance designers Bianca Chang and Luca Lonescu, and Melbourne based art director Paul Meates.

The type of work produced by these and other creatives is quite diverse but all share a passion for the visual and a need to get back to their creative roots. Showcase Gallery director Kellie Nichol-Smith completed a Bachelor of Photography at the Queensland College of Art and has worked as a photographic agent and a creative recruitment consultant.

“In my line of work I would see that while all these creative types were producing amazing commercial work, their personal work was put on the backburner,” she said.

“In modern day life we’re so busy that we forget what got us into the creative field. This is an avenue to return to that place, to work as a collaborative and creative community and to share ideas and experiences. Showcase is a tailored, industry specific gallery in which creative professionals can be taken seriously for their personal work and start to develop and evolve their exhibiting profile.”

The gallery not only provides a space from which the non-commercial work of creative professionals can be exhibited and sold, it also encourages and celebrates the exploration of that blurred line between art and advertising, and one’s commercial and personal practice.

“I’ve always been fascinated with advertising and with that grey area where art becomes advertising and advertising becomes art, and where there is resonance and a dialogue between the two,” Kellie Nichol-Smith said.

The gallery’s location also makes a point about blurred lines – it’s right at home within Desk Space, which is a managed office space for creatives that encourages collaboration.

“When I saw Desk Space, I could see it fitting in well with where I wanted to take the gallery. It makes the space more a destination for exchange rather than a strict white box.”

Paper artist Bianca Chang, who worked for Frost Design before becoming a freelance designer, praised Showcase Gallery for bringing a much-needed collaborative space to the Australian creative community.

“The gallery’s concept is original and creates a meeting ground where ideas can be exchanged through a growing network of peers,” she said.

“I originally developed my art practice to appeal to other graphic designers – Showcase will help me to broaden my reach. I believe Kellie has the experience, network and general know-how to be able to communicate with and understand the motives, background and artistic desires of an artist, with a design mode of thinking rather than a fine art one.”

Photographer Mark Mawson said Showcase Gallery encouraged a perspective toward art and creativity that exists internationally but has been missing from the local scene.

“I’ve had lots of interest in my personal work from international galleries but not a lot in Sydney, there seems to be something missing here,” Mark Mawson said.

“Having gallery representation in Sydney is important and will help develop a presence for my work in Australia.”

Showcase Gallery is located in Suite 3, Level 2, 85 William Street Darlinghurst and is taking expressions of interest from creatives. Please email Kellie for further information.

Visit  for further details.

Image Credit:

Paul Meates – Art Director from GPYR Melbourne