The artwork of one of Australia’s most highly regarded contemporary visual artists is among a record-breaking number of artists to showcase their craft at the City of Cockburn’s 20th Show Off Art Exhibition 5-13 April.
Longtime Hamilton Hill local, Trevor Vickers was named in the WA Government’s State Cultural Treasures Awards in November 2024, recognising a distinguished cohort that has made a deep and enduring impact on the WA arts landscape.
Producing some of the finest abstract paintings in Australia, Quintessentially Cockburn
Vickers has exhibited in every Show Off exhibition since it began in 2003.
With many of his works held in public and private collections including the Australian National Gallery, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of Western Australia and the Heidi Museum, Vickers is a great supporter of the Show Off tradition and at age 81, and remains an active creator in his home studio.
Vickers described Show Off as a “wonderful thing”.
“That exhibition pulls in an enormous amount of painters and other artists from Cockburn. You wouldn’t imagine that there are that many people in the arts in Cockburn, but there are,” he said.
“There are some old greats like George Haynes and Jane Martin in the exhibition and artists who are just starting out, the complete spectrum - very experienced artists who have been creating for 60 years and others at the opposite end of their artistic life.
“That egalitarian aspect of Show Off is what has been so great over the past 20 or so years.”
The 2025 exhibition will feature a record-breaking 92 exhibitors aged between 20 and 87. This includes a variety of family groups including a father and son, grandmother and grandson, father and daughter, mother and son, father and daughter, sisters, and a husband and wife.
Some other well-known and regular exhibitors include George Haynes, Larry Mitchell and Sharyn Egan.
Two artists have been invited to exhibit at the 2025 event, as participants in the Gascoyne Art Awards held by the City of Carnarvon, under its friendship agreement with the City of Cockburn.
Gosia Taylor won the Gascoyne Art Award Best Overall Winner Award, while the City of Cockburn purchased the artwork of fellow Gascoyne exhibitor, Karla Tittums.
City of Cockburn Art and Culture Coordinator Cassandra Cooper said Show Off continued to be a respected event in artist calendars in Perth and further afield.
“We have always included a range of exhibitors in Show Off, from the very accomplished like Trevor Vickers, highly talented serial exhibiters with a dedicated following, and first time exhibitors cutting their teeth in the arts world,” Ms Cooper said.
“This year about a quarter of our exhibitors will be participating for the first time which is a testament to the continued vibrancy of Cockburn’s artistic community.”
Mayor Logan Howlett said Show Off was a favourite event in his calendar, where he looked forward to helping choose and purchase art for the City of Cockburn collection, and his own personal art collection.
“I am always so impressed by the talent, and the variety of mediums and styles that make Show Off a unique event in Perth,” Mr Howlett said.
“I encourage everyone to set aside time to be inspired by the rich artistic talent that thrives in Cockburn, by coming to this free exhibition.
“It will again be held at Memorial Hall which this year commemorates its 100th anniversary, which is a very special occasion in itself, and a tribute to its important role in our community since 1925.”
Show Off will he held 5-13 April. Find out more on the City’s
website.