Tina McDade, Tracey Findlay, Katy Perry and Super Tracey, 2026. Image courtesy of the Hands on Studio.
Hands on Studio
Gallery 3
Opening Thursday 22 October, 2026, 6-8pm
Friday 23 October - Sunday 15 November
Who is your idol? Is it a world-famous performer, a respected journalist, an AFL player, or the person who quietly supports you every day? This exhibition invites audiences to consider the many forms that admiration can take, revealing that heroes exist not only on our screens and sporting fields but also within our homes and communities.
Through a collection of intimate sculptural portraits, the artists of Hands On Studio celebrate the people who have shaped their lives. Their idols include internationally recognized figures such as pop icon Katy Perry, whose music inspires confidence and joy; broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough, admired for his lifelong commitment to the natural world; journalist Leigh Sales, respected for her intelligence and integrity; and AFL player Adam Gould, whose dedication and perseverance embody the values of teamwork and resilience.
Alongside these public figures are deeply personal heroes: mothers who provide unconditional love, support workers who encourage independence and growth, family members, friends, and carers whose compassion and everyday acts of kindness have made a lasting impact. By placing celebrities and everyday people side by side, the exhibition suggests that inspiration is not measured by fame but by the positive influence ne person can have on another.
Created by artists from Hands On Studio, these works reflect a diverse community of creatives aged 19 to 86 who use art to communicate, connect, and express their identities. Working across a range of materials and artistic approaches, each artist has interpreted the theme through their own lived experiences, resulting in a collection that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.Together, these sculptures celebrate admiration in all its forms. They encourage viewers to reflect on their own idols and recognize that the people who inspire us most are often those who make us feel seen, supported, empowered, and hopeful. In doing so, the exhibition honors both extraordinary achievements and the quiet, everyday acts that enrich our lives.
Learn More About Hands On Studio:
Since 1995, studioMAP has been instrumental in developing the talents of local young artists in Canberra and the region. studioMAP offers a progressive art education within M16 Artspace community art centre, under the guidance of its founding artist and director, Jeff Skewes. studioMAP has been based at M16 Artspace since 2007, providing art tuition in painting, drawing and illustration to many hundreds of Canberra region young art students attending the studio after school and on the weekends.
studioMAP's After school and weekends painting and drawing classes include participants from six years old, through young teens to late teen age. Separate teen only classes and pre-teen only are also catered for. Illustration only classes and workshops are also available.