Celebrating belonging through art, memory, and community.
This outdoor gallery is part of a community-wide project that invited local artists and residents to explore one simple question:
What makes you feel like you truly belong?
Each artwork in the outdoor gallery was created by a member of our community and paired with a personal story. Together, they form a collective portrait of Hervey Bay - its people, its cultures, its moments of kindness, and the places where connection grows.
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Alex dedicated a significant amount of time exploring and considering many different ideas before beginning his work. Read more
Ana enjoyed painting her mural and learning how to draw a turtle with our visiting artist LeeLee. She wanted to paint a picture of a turtle because she loves them. She has a memory of seeing a real turtle near the boat club once. Read more
Anna is one of our Senior Art students and an enthusiastic, passionate artist. Read more
Annabelle loves to draw at school. She especially loves to draw things that make her happy. Her painting style echoes her drawing style. People who know Annabelle and her artwork, immediately recognise this painting as an ‘Annabelle’, in the same way people recognise a ‘Picasso’. Read more
This artist's favourite thing to do is to play UNO with others. They have a feeling of belonging when they play this game with others. Read more
Aurelia Hardy's Art Story Wall piece, Exploring Creatures. Read more
I wanted to paint a surfer and a shark because they are my favourite things about the ocean. I like the ocean because it's peace and quiet. I belong with the ocean. Read more
Chase loves to read books. He loves escaping into imaginary worlds that authors create. Read more
Darryl is extremely creative and determined, with a clear sense of what he wants to do. Read more
The painting (acrylic on board) is an abstraction inspired by a tranquil spot at Bamboo Land Nursery & Parklands and deals with connections on multiple levels. Read more
This is a painting about my tribe. I belong with my tribe. Read more
Ebony painted a picture of Hervey Bay beach with K'gari in the background. She loves to go to the beach and walking on the pier with her family. Read more
Eli Hardy's Art Story Wall piece, Things I Love Read more
My name is Eli Muckan and I am an eight-year-old proud Kabi Kabi descendant. I started getting creative with Indigenous art about two years ago. I love painting and drawing pictures for my family. Read more
Emerson Baines' Art Story Wall piece, Today and Tonight. Read more
Walking Together is a reminder to become aware of your surroundings. Connect with your neighbourhood and the cycles of the seasons evident in nature. Read more
Freda Jean Green has always had a love of Art. More recently taken up painting outdoors in the elements. Mostly painting local wildlife and seascapes and landscapes. Water-based acrylic paints used with a love of vibrant colours. Currently a Teacher Aide at a local school where opportunities to encourage others to try being creative. You may even find one of my painted rocks left locally. Read more
It took hard work and good stuff to do this painting. Harry worked on this artwork over a period of 3 weeks. He had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve and was proud of his creation. Read more
"I enjoy rock painting and I have attended Bottlebrush Craft Centre for three years, creating wood-burning masterpieces. I thoroughly enjoy wood-burning and even entered my art in the 2025 Fraser Coats Agricultural Show and I took out second place in my category. When it comes to painting, this is my first painting." Read more
We are the children of Hervey Bay Kindergarten, aged between 3 and 5 years old. This year, we've developed a strong love for art and creativity! Our days are spent outdoors in nature - at our Beach and Bush Kindy sites, or in the play spaces at Hervey Bay Kindy. Read more
Hope is incredibly creative. She is in her happy and safe place when she is making and creating with a range of different art materials. Read more
"I’m a 73-year-old Hervey Bay resident for the last three years, after starting out in Sydney then in Bathurst for 46 years. I have been doing various types of art since schooldays, mainly doing oil paintings relating to where I have lived. Since moving to the Bay I have been a member of Older Men’s Unlimited and groups meeting with like-minded men to express our artistic selves & enjoy the fellowship that goes along with it." Read more
Izack loves to draw at home. His favourite style is anime. Painting is not something he typically engages in, so working in a different style and medium presented a real challenge for him. Read more
James is an amazingly talented artist. Not only can he look at any picture and copy it, but he is also able to draw and paint amazing pictures straight from his imagination. Read more