Ballarat is known for its history of fine and visual arts.

From the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s 135-year-old motto of ‘not for self, but for all’, right through to emerging street and ephemeral artists, there is a continued thread of visual arts in Ballarat.

A wave of visual art influence swept through the city in the mid-1980s, fed by the irreverent students and teachers who passed through the doors of the-then Ballarat College of Advanced Education. Classmates of the era are still practising locally today, and the impact of their shared history continues to resonate.

Steve Sedgwick, Tarli Glover and Margie Delahunty Spencer share an uncanny connection in their style and treatment of paint. Each has their own interpretation, style and direction, but their works reveal a deeper common language.

“There were a lot of artist studios spread throughout Ballarat when we were at school,” explains Steve.

“There were less rules, and a lot of empty spaces. Many of our lecturers had studios in town. There was a history of space being harnessed, and we just thought it was normal.”

For Margie, it was a really exciting time: “There were always impromptu exhibitions happening.”

The trio reported that their freedom during their years of study meant that students formed groups that produced a myriad of different types of works – some groups continued on for decades after the students graduated. Other groups conducted performances, wrote creatively, created sculpture and kept the artistic expression of the city alive.

“I always felt that at the time even though there was a huge artistic pool in Ballarat, we were still pretty much underground,” said Tarli.

“Today art is a lot more out in the open.”

The city continues to nurture visual artists, and there is a quietly growing community of studio-based activity that hums throughout Ballarat. Newer practitioners have all made Ballarat their base, some of them building bodies of award-winning works, others exhibiting in Ballarat and further afield. They are supported through the provision of a free exhibition space at the Backspace Gallery (curated by the Art Gallery of Ballarat together with the City of Ballarat) which provides a valuable step up for visual artists.