Celebrating Creativity and Inclusion at Orana’s Art Exhibition

Creating Opportunities to Share, Create and Inspire

Orana’s 2026 Art Exhibition transformed our Ridleyton site into a vibrant celebration of creativity, connection and inclusion, bringing together artists, families, friends, staff, volunteers and members of the wider community.

Held on Friday 24 July, the exhibition showcased the incredible talent and imagination of artists with disability, with 24 artworks submitted across a diverse range of creative styles. From paintings and drawings to digital art, mixed media, sculptures, textile art and puzzles, every piece offered a unique glimpse into the creativity and individual expression of its artist.

Around 80 people attended the evening, taking the opportunity to explore the exhibition, meet artists, admire the artwork and celebrate the achievements of everyone involved. The atmosphere was filled with conversation, connection and plenty of inspiration, with woodfired pizza and refreshments adding to the relaxed community feel.

A highlight of the evening was the People’s Choice Award, giving visitors the opportunity to vote for their favourite artwork. The award went to Andrew Luca for his artwork, Puzzles, recognising a piece that captured the attention and imagination of exhibition visitors.

This year’s exhibition also included an interactive arts station where attendees could create their own pieces of art to place on our art tree or take home. It was a great way to get everyone involved in the art making process and to show off their skills.

While the artists were at the heart of the exhibition, bringing the event to life was very much a team effort. Behind the scenes, Orana staff and volunteers worked hard to prepare the Ridleyton site, install the artworks and create a welcoming gallery space. Operations Manager Isaac was among those getting hands-on with the preparations, working alongside Elton and the wider team to make sure everything was ready for opening night.

The exhibition was also an opportunity to recognise the importance of providing people with disability with opportunities to express themselves, share their creativity and have their work seen and celebrated by their community.

Orana extends a heartfelt thank you to all the artists who submitted their work, to everyone who attended, and to the staff and volunteers who helped make the exhibition possible.

The evening may be over, but the inspiration from the artwork continues to stay with us, a wonderful reminder of the creativity, talent and individuality within the Orana community.