Hands On Studio, GOREGOUS, 2025. Image courtesy of Hands On Studio.
Hands On Studio
Gallery 3
Opening Saturday 1 November 6pm – 10pm
Quiet Hour 5pm - 6pm
Quiet Hour provides an accessible low-sensory environment to experience the exhibition.
Sunday 2 November – Sunday 23 November
A fashion exhibition by Hands On Studio.
GORGEOUS is an exhibition that explores fashion as a living, expressive language — unruly, intimate, and always in motion.
Positioned between chaos and care, the works presented here are garments that do more than clothe the body; they carry memory, gesture, and the quiet tension of transformation. Upcycled materials are reworked with intention, where thread and texture speak to processes of unravelling and renewal.
Throughout the space, silhouettes resist symmetry, and details emerge like afterthoughts — subtle, surprising, and charged with feeling. The boundaries between costume, couture, and sculpture dissolve, allowing new narratives to surface.
Each piece is created by an artist from Hands On Studio — a collective of makers whose diverse practices challenge narrow definitions of both art and fashion. Their work invites us to consider the garment not as finished product, but as ongoing process: a map of experience, stitched with imperfection and insight.
GORGEOUS does not seek stillness as an end point, but moves with it — embracing the shifting, flickering nature of beauty, identity, and expression.
About Hands On Studio
At Hands On Studio, we believe that art is for everyone. Since 1996, we’ve been nurturing a vibrant, inclusive arts community where people of all abilities can explore their creativity, connect with others, and express themselves freely.
As a program of Marymead CatholicCare, Hands On Studio was founded with a clear purpose: to create a supportive, accessible space for artists with disabilities. What began as a small initiative has grown into a pioneering force in community arts, championing inclusion, visibility, and creative empowerment across the Canberra region.
Today, we operate from two dynamic locations — M16 Artspace in Griffith and our studio in O’Connor, ACT — offering over 110 artists each week the opportunity to learn, grow, and create. Our person-centred classes run for three hours, giving artists the freedom to work in any medium or material that inspires them, from painting and sculpture to textiles and mixed media.
Our artists range in age from 19 to 86, bringing with them a rich tapestry of life experiences, perspectives, and talents. Within this diverse and welcoming environment, creativity flourishes. It’s a space where friendships are formed, ideas are shared, and individual voices are celebrated. Whether artists are discovering their creative spark or refining their craft, they are supported every step of the way by our passionate team and inclusive ethos.
Hands On Studio is more than just a place to make art — it's a community. Through regular exhibitions and collaborations with galleries, cultural institutions, and other community groups, we ensure our artists are seen, heard, and valued. Our work helps bridge gaps, challenge perceptions, and show the incredible potential of inclusive creative practice.
