Current Exhibition
Join us at the UOW Gallery for a unique opportunity to explore two impactful photography exhibitions running side by side from October 14 to December 11, 2024.
Matriarch celebrates the strength and resilience of Black women, acknowledging their vital role in shaping families, communities, and cultures. Through a series of poignant portraits by Murri artist, Broc Piazza, this exhibition honours the everyday matriarchs whose love and leadership inspire generations. Each image tells a story of connection, highlighting the diverse ways Black women influence and uplift those around them.
In tandem, Sustainable Snapshots - Putting Country into Focus invites visitors to reflect on their relationship with the land. This exhibition showcases perspectives from UOW staff and students, emphasising the intrinsic link between caring for Country and environmental sustainability. Through stunning imagery, it encourages us to consider our everyday actions and their impact on our shared environment.
Location: UOW Gallery, ground floor of building 29, Jillian Broadbent Building, western side of the Wollongong campus
Dates: 14 October – 11 December 2024
Times: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm, Mondays to Wednesdays
Admission: Free and open to the public
Matriarch Official Exhibition Opening: Tuesday, 29 October, 4.00 pm. All welcome.
Sustainable Snapshots award ceremony: Wednesday, 30 October
Matriarch
Black women are beautiful and strong and always giving
The black community stands on the shoulders of black women.
Without the matriarch a lot of society just doesn't work the way that it does or that it needs to. Being a matriarch though isn’t about power or how much noise that you make. Being a matriarch is about leading by example. Our matriarchs know that there’s leadership in love be that for family, community, culture or Country. Most of us tell stories of being raised by our mum, or our grandma, or our aunties. We share stories about the black women who created the safe spaces for us to grow and learn, who told us to dream big and encouraged us on our way.
Black women change the lives and the worlds they come into contact with just by doing what they’re doing with whatever space, energy, capacity and opportunity that they have.
This exhibition is an act of appreciation for some of the amazing black women who have impacted Murri artist, Broc Piazza over the last 18 months. These portraits tell an important story, that there are so many sides to black women and so many ways of being a black woman, and that all of them are valid.
Matriarch is supported by the Woolyungah Indigenous Centre, Indigenous Strategy Unit and the UOW Art Collection and Gallery.
Sustainable Snapshots
Putting Country into Focus
The Sustainable Snapshots - Putting Country into Focus exhibition highlights UOW’s staff and students’ connection to our Australian campuses.
This exhibition provides opportunities for people to share their perspectives around the importance of caring for Country. The photo competition aimed to highlight how caring for Country and environmental sustainability are intrinsically linked. As we are engaging in sustainable practices, we are helping to support the health and well-being of Country.
Sustainable Snapshots - Putting Country into Focus invites people to reflect on their own relationship with Country and what actions they are taking in their everyday lives to care for this place.
It is a reminder that we are always on Country, that we are Country, and our identity is shaped by Country.
We also hoped that this space provides an opportunity for people to acknowledge the rich and sophisticated knowledge systems that Aboriginal peoples from across our campus locations hold and continue to share.
Special thanks to the Sustainable Futures Committee who made this competition and exhibition possible. We appreciate and acknowledge the importance of the work you do in this space.
