UMI Arts will unveil its 12th annual Freshwater Saltwater members' exhibition on June 20.
Taking place at Jensen Plaza Gallery in Manoora, the new exhibition will celebrate the vibrant and diverse artistic expressions of Far North Queensland's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
The 2025 exhibition brings together 12 mid-career to established artists presenting 34 new works across acrylic on canvas, monoprints, and woven artefacts. Known as the organisation's premium group show, Freshwater Saltwater continues to attract art lovers and collectors from across the region and beyond.
UMI Arts artistic director Lisa Michl Ko-manggén OAM said the exhibition's title reflects a cultural and geographical metaphor unique to Far North Queensland.
"This year's beautiful and thought-provoking collection represents the flowing together of our people's cultures and stories—from rainforest to desert to island," she said.
The artists exhibiting include Harold Bowen, Robert Tommy Pau, Anzak Newman, Erin Jia, Shane Gibson, Edward Williams (Munu Wuthuga Dardakin), Connie Rovina, Daisy Hamlet, Wanda Gibson, Teneille Nuggins, Kassandra Savage, and Lila Creek.
UMI Arts exhibition and gallery officer Aleksandra Kostic said the show provides both a platform and a milestone for its exhibiting members.
"Freshwater Saltwater is a real celebration for Queensland's First Nations artists, who have independently achieved a significant milestone in their careers with artwork that is high-quality, collectible, and exhibition ready," she said.
"UMI is dedicated to nurturing emerging artists, and this exhibition is the culmination of our development programs."
Established in 2005, UMI Arts is the peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and cultural organisation for Far North Queensland. UMI Arts is a not-for-profit company managed by an all-Indigenous Board of Directors. Its mission is to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in participating in the maintenance, preservation, and protection of their cultural identity.
UMI Arts' Freshwater Saltwater Exhibition officially opens at 6 pm on Friday the 20th of June, at UMI Arts' Jensen Plaza Gallery in Manoora. The exhibition is free to view from Monday to Friday and will run until Friday the 12th of October 2025.
Please note: Freshwater Saltwater is also the title of UMI Arts' separate 20th anniversary commemorative exhibition, which is invitation-only and will be held at the Mulgrave Gallery from 28 June to 23 August. While both exhibitions share a title and spirit, they are distinct.
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