New exhibition takes flight

 Award-winning artist Kristy-Ann Duffy’s Logan Art Gallery exhibition this summer is a window – and at times, an escape – into the wondrous natural world. 

The exhibition, A tale of two birds, will run until 25 January 2025, and represents a joyful reminder to slow down, observe and cherish Mother Nature’s gifts.  

The collaborative exhibition between Kristy-Ann and ceramist Toni Bielby captures the beauty of avian life through sculpture and painting.  

Photo above: Co-exhibitor ceramist Toni Bielby with her pieces. 

‘Storytelling is a big part of my art – our main goal was to be expressive and capture the character of the birds, which is important to both of us,’ Kristy-Ann says. 

‘I selected mostly South East Queensland birds that you can see around Logan.’ 

Kristy-Ann, a self-proclaimed ‘crazy bird lady’, has always been fascinated with the species. 

‘Birds are beautiful, interesting, intelligent and sometimes even bizarre or funny,’ she says. 

‘The more you watch, the more you see and understand the diversity of their character and behaviours. 

‘They have stories to tell if you take the time to watch.’ 

Photo above: A snapshot of an acrylic on canvas, Please Dad I Dropped Mine, by Kristy-Ann Duffy. 

Her bold and vibrant work – most of which are acrylic on canvas – depicts special fleeting moments, including a male bee-eater handing a butterfly to his mate and butcherbirds warbling joyously in the rain. 

‘My work is inspired by the moment and my photos often don’t quite do it justice,’ Kristy-Ann says. 

‘The power of art is that we can exaggerate what we want to express and how we felt in that moment.’ 

For Kristy-Ann, creating art is almost like meditation. 

‘You focus so much on what you’re doing, and you go to a place that’s pure creation, where everything disappears for a while,’ she says. 

‘Art has helped me through some very difficult times and I’d say the same about birdwatching. 

‘When birds let you see a little bit of their world, it’s just pure magic. It doesn’t matter how stressful the rest of your life – when you have those little moments, it re-balances and re-grounds you.’  

One of the exhibition’s main features – a charming depiction of a young black cockatoo’s growing pains in a banksia tree – took 8 months to complete. 

Kristy-Ann’s passion for birds can be seen in each brushstroke and it’s this attention to detail that has led to numerous accolades, including a 2023 Queensland Wildlife Artists Society Award for Excellence. 

She hopes the Logan Art Gallery exhibition will inspire joy and a deeper interest in birds and wildlife. 

‘I honestly believe that surrounding yourself with bright, joyful art can make you feel happier and more uplifted,’ she says.  

Pieces by Kristy-Ann Duffy and Toni Bielby are available for purchase, along with a variety of merchandise featuring Kristy-Ann’s art. These include beautiful silk scarves, tote bags, handmade Christmas ornaments — handpainted ones by Kristy-Ann and ceramic ones by Toni — and more goodies.  

For more information on this and other exhibitions at Logan Art Gallery, visit the Logan Arts website.

Photo at top: Award-winning artist Kristy-Ann Duffy at Logan Art Gallery.