Emerging artists take centre stage in EYE25 exhibition
Federation University’s Visual Arts students will step into the spotlight this month with EYE25, the Arts Academy’s annual end-of-year exhibition.
Highlighting the achievements of Bachelor of Visual Arts and Honours students, the exhibition features a diverse collection of works including painting, drawing, ceramics, installation, printmaking, digital photography, animation and mixed media.
Offering a unique opportunity to experience the creative achievement of the next generation of emerging artists, the exhibition will be open to art-lovers from Saturday, 15 November to Sunday, 23 November 2025 at Federation’s Post Office Gallery.
Members of the public are also welcome to join the official opening on Friday, 14 November, with Director of the Arts Academy Professor Richard Chew.
The opening will include a special presentation of wearable art by seven first-year students, Wearing the Self Inside Out: It's Where You Live, blurring the boundaries between fashion and fine art. Featuring original designs, the students will parade their work while activating the many inventive movable parts.
Arts Academy Director, Professor Chew said EYE25 was particularly remarkable, given the Gallery’s most recent exhibition featured the work of world-renowned photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, part of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
“Only in a place like Ballarat can you move from an internationally acclaimed artist like Mapplethorpe to a celebration of emerging local talent – all within the same walls,” he said.
“EYE25 continues that ambition, demonstrating that world-class art doesn’t just visit Ballarat, it grows here.”
Bachelor of Visual Arts Course Coordinator, Jimmy Pasakos, said the event provided students with hands-on experience in preparing and presenting their work to the public.
“This exhibition gives students a really good grounding in professional practice – and highlights the benefits of the Co-op approach by giving students the real-life experience of exhibiting,” he said.
Shelley Hinton, curator at Federation’s Post Office Gallery, urged people not to miss the exhibition.
"It’s always exciting to view new work created by our students and humbling to curate the exhibition for our emerging artists,” she said.
“An important aspect of Ballarat's Visual Arts program is that it provides students the unique opportunity to showcase their work in two professionally curated exhibitions each year of their studies in a university gallery, right in Ballarat's heart and CBD”.
Exhibition Details:
Venue: Post Office Gallery, Federation University, cnr Sturt & Lydiard St, Ballarat VIC 3350
Dates: Saturday 15 November – Sunday 23 November 2025, 12.30pm to 5pm
Opening Event: Friday 14 November, 5:30pm for 6:00pm
Contact: +61 (03) 5327 8615 | pogallery@federation.edu.au