The largest display of artwork by people living with disability, our Myriad Exhibition, as part of the SALA Festival is back for 2024.
Myriad runs during the South Australian Living Arts Festival (SALA). Our Myriad Exhibition is a collaborative exhibition showcasing a Myriad of artists, abilities, artworks and stories of people living with a disability across South Australia.
SALA is an annual state-wide festival of visual art that promotes and celebrates the many talented visual artists in SA. SALA parallels our own policy of inclusiveness and we’re very proud to be providing artists with disability a platform to utilise their creativity in expressing their inner worlds.
IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR 2025:
Our usual venue, The State Library of South Australia, has let us know that our space is being repurposed and is no longer available to us.
While this is disappointing news, we’re using this time to pause and rethink how we can bring the Myriad exhibition to life in 2026 in a way that continues to celebrate and showcase the work of artists living with disability. This does mean that we will not be holding the exhibition this year.
We’ll instead be using this time to reimagine what Myriad could look like in 2026—so it continues to shine a light on the incredible talent of artists living with disability, in new and meaningful ways. If you have any ideas on what you would like to see happen in this space, please let us know!
We know many of you have already begun creating artwork, and we want to honour that. If you’d like to share your piece with us, we’d love to feature it on our website and social media channels throughout the year.
Thank you so much for your passion and ongoing involvement. Myriad is a special event because of the creativity, dedication, and community you bring to it. It’s a special part of what we do, and we’ll keep you updated as we start planning for what’s next.
Artist registrations for 2024 are closed
Registrations for our 2024 Myriad Art Exhibition have closed, however if you are interested in participating next year, join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on all details for 2024.
Virtual Gallery
Myriad will exhibit virtually for the entire month, allowing online viewing and purchase of the artworks.
View the 2023 and 2022 virtual galleries.
Featured Artists
Rick Braendler
A softly-spoken spoken inquisitive photographer, with a witty sense of humour, Rick takes immense pleasure in stretching his creative thoughts by looking at things differently - Written by Rick's Program Coordinator.
Sharon Buer
When being creative I feel like I am travelling well. The process of creating gives me inspiration. I like being curious and this leads to my creativity. I feel grounded when in the flow of creating art and this is beneficial to me; mindfulness is my panacea and happy space. I find joy in the little and big things. My goals for entering Myriad for the first time is to share my work and I look forward to seeing what other people create.
Paul Chaplin
Painting has always been my passion, from the earliest days I can remember. My favorite thing to paint is Australian landscapes with oil paint on canvas. I enjoy interpreting the shapes, shadows, colours and getting inspired by looking at calendars or posters and watching documentaries. Travel isn't easy because of my disability but painting lets me escape. I never let my disability dampen my creativity but enhance it.
Daniel Clark
I am Daniel and I love sewing. I learned to sew at TAFE in Albany WA and made many items of clothing for myself. After that I learned to do patchwork and quilting, and this has been a hobby of mine for many years now. Much of the fabric I use has been donated and I purchase all the extras like wadding and threads and some plain fabrics to blend in. I have two sewing machines, one I use for sewing the pieces together, and the other I use for quilting. I like to create small lap sized quilts that I can donate to charities, exhibit, and sometimes sell. I really enjoy working out how to use the fabrics to make the quilts look interesting and colorful. I always feel happy when I am sewing.
Oliver Cousins
My Name is Oliver Cousins. I have cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, Autism and a sensory processing disorder. I have found photography very relaxing and I tend to see things from a different perspective to others. I hope you enjoy my work.
Ross Evans
My name is Ross, I live in Strathalbyn and enjoy doing art. Doing art started as therapy with my support workers. It brought me so much joy, and now, 20+ years later, I do it all the time. I like how creating makes me feel. It’s a lot of fun and makes me happy.
Kirsty Hoppe
My name is Kirsty, I have an intellectual disability meaning I am non-verbal. My support worker at Hills Community Options supported me in writing my bio and entering Myriad. It is my first time being a feature artist. I attend HCO Day Options in Mt Barker where I love participating in all kinds of art and craft, often completing different paintings and diamond arts. I am often described as very creative, and I am always eager to try new art and craft projects to keep developing my skills.
Mia Qua
My name is Mia and I am an Aboriginal woman living in Murray Bridge on Ngarrindjeri land. I have been developing my art skills for 60 years. My art is an expression of my soul and my way to tell the world about my history and my beliefs. My past is dark and terrible but my art has brought me into the light. Art is my way of showing the positives of the present are created from abuse in the past. I have shared my art through a variety of exhibitions and really like to come to Myriad and see the work of other Artists.
Paul Sundstrom
I've suffered from disability and severe mental illness all my life. Painting my masterpieces, which started as a portrait of my emotions helped me to find peace. Painting brings light into my world. Through my artworks, if things are going rough, all is not lost, painting has been my world and saved my world. It is a great honour to share my artwork with the people of Adelaide during Myriad.
Myriad Artists
Exhibition Partners
Artist and artwork transport for this project was made possible by the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.
Past Myriad
Exhibitions
View works from our other Myriad Art Exhibitions over the years.
Riverland Engage
Sleepy lizards
Various
$15 each
Sculptures of our beloved Australian Shingleback Lizards made from papier mache, stones and pine cones.Intended for use as paper weights or doorstops, or a sculpture - we're sure people would have to look twice!
Goolwa Day Options
African Animals
Various
Sold
Our group comes together on Thursday afternoons and have been exploring different African animals they could paper mache. It has been a huge group effort with lots of paper and glue being used! Our animals have been created over the last 8 months.
Goolwa Day Options
African Queen
Sold
Our group comes together on Thursday afternoons and have been exploring different styles of art work. We used textiles to draw 3D attention to our African Queen portrait, such as using Coffee Beans for her hair, adding earrings and necklaces, and fabric to create her head scarf and dress line.
Goolwa Day Options
Masks and Shields
Various
Sold
Our group comes together on Thursday afternoons and have been exploring different items they could paper mache which reflect our chosen theme. We decided to make face masks and tribal shields.
Goolwa Day Options
Keys to the Ocean
Sold
Our Creative Craft group chose to look at up-cycling old keys to create different types of art work. We began collecting mismatched keys and sorting them to outline our Seahorse. We painted our canvas with ocean inspired colours and our end result was our masterpiece "Keys to the Ocean" reflecting our place we call home.
Hills Community Options (HCO) Day Options
Calming Beach
180cm x 120cm
Not for sale
As a group, we wanted to paint a gift for one of our friends, another client who attends HCO Day Options. One of his favourite places is the beach, so we wanted him to be able to enjoy the beach from his own house.
Hills Community Options (HCO) Day Options
The Welcome Tree
100cm x 100cm
Not for sale
We wanted to create an artwork in which everyone in our program could join and help. We were able to get everybody at the centre to include their own hand prints, including our friends who are not a part of the art program.
Hills Community Options (HCO) Day Options
Dragon Fly
115cm x 106cm
Sold
We wanted to create some artwork that we could decorate our centre with, using an old table leg and fans, we were able to upcycle them into this Dragon Fly.
Hills Community Options (HCO) Day Options
Tapestry of Fun
35cm x 40cm
Not for sale
Inspired by the lovely group artworks at Myriad 2023 we wanted to create something to enter as a group. Our sewing group have often created individual pieces of art so creating this piece together was lots of fun. The group are very proud.
Adelaide Hills Day Options
In Full Bloom
120cm x 60cm
Sold
Ben brightly coloured multiple pieces of paper with crayons. Those pieces were cut into floral shapes by Kimberley and Gary. Jane crafted the cut-outs into blooming flowers and glued them on the skirt. It was a big group effort to do this piece with a job for everyone. Fabric and card were used to fashion the bodice and the lady wearing the dress, to create a textured look. We are all very proud of how this turned out and hope you enjoy it.
Adelaide Hills Day Options - Sewing Group
Pets Galore
140cm x 84cm
$100
We started making quilts because sewing in straight lines made it easier for our group to learn and develop their skills. It also uses up the scrap fabrics left over from other sewing projects which is a great way to keep upcycling.
Adelaide Hills Day Options - Textile Group
If I Could Talk to the Animals
50cm x 100cm
Sold
Animals made from felt, fabric, buttons and beads because our group are all animal lovers!
Southern Metro Engage
Working Together
41cm x 51cm
Sold
We used different painting techniques to create this masterpiece at our Engage program. With mutiple artist inputs in the creation of this piece there was excitement, laughter and even a paint fight. It was alot of fun. Everyone was included in the process no matter their skills or painting style which meant a happy and inclusive outcome for us all.
Mount Gambier Engage
New Life
100cm x 100cm
Sold
Our group loves to be creative, it brings out the best in us, there is a lot of joy and big smiles in the room when we create. We have worked as a team to create this masterpiece from recycled buttons. You will see a touch of every ones personality through the colour choices and placement they have created.
Our Voice SA and Painting Around is Fun!
Peer Support
100cm x 100cm
$3000
Peer Support is a collaborative socially created artwork painted by members of Our Voice SA and their team with Social Art Guide Charndra Pile of Painting Around is Fun. This beautiful, unique artwork shows harmonious cool colours representing the network of Our Voice SA helping each other as a Peer Support organisation, and the flash of gold represents our inner strength. Layers of cooperative patterning with colours and play, experimenting and exploring creativity resulted in this lovely piece.
Riverland Engage
Felt Gnome Dolls
Up to 17cm tall, 7cm wide at base
$10 each
These quirky characters are hand made gnome figurines in various colours, styles and personalities. They are hand stitched using donated and upcycled materials by the Riverland Engage Art and Craft program and make great friends.
Claire
The Exchange Post
62cm x 45cm
Sold
I have a mental health disorder and sometimes escape into fantasy to avoid dealing with the challenges I face. In this painting, the dancing shoes represent my fantasy escapism. They are left behind at the fencepost and our farmlet changes from a romanticised fantasy to a content, fulfilling reality with the beginnings of true growth. I used the fluid nature of watercolours for my painting. I traded in my dancing shoes for gumboots, and this painting is a reminder.
Tamika
Castle of Our History
61cm x 46cm
Sold
I wanted to paint this castle. We saw it as part of our photography group. It was so beautiful to me I wanted to recreate it.
Cassandra
Door Stops
Various - 135cm long
Sold
Cassie loves to knit, so she uses all her leftover wool stuff her door stops/draft stoppers. She receives assistance from our team to help sew them together. Cassie picks out the colours and assists with the different styles and sizing, and then gets stuffing! Cassie is very proud of her work and loves seeing them on display and for sale at the CLA Murray Bridge office - written by Cassie's Program Coordinator.
Izzy
Night Magic
90cm x 60xm
$100
This art is on canvas, using acrylic paint. The art resembles the night sky in outback Australia.
Jillian
Bubbles
50cm x 60cm
Not for sale
I like using different household objects to create with. I used different types of cylinder shapes, of differing sizes. I dipped them into a tray of mixed coloured paints. When it was finished I thought it was like bubbles.
Jotham
Tank Art
28cm x 23cm
Not for sale
Walking through Mt Barker with our photography group, I really liked the artwork on this old tank. I really like being a part of the photography group.
Tamara
Family Dog
50cm x 40cm
Not for sale
I painted our family dog because I love dogs and painting!
Natasha
Elephant Love
40cm x 50cm
Sold
I love elephants, they're lovely and live in Africa. I wanted to show a mothers love for their baby.
Danielle
Rainbow
41cm x 51cm
Sold
I made this artwork to make people happy, using happy colours, because I'm creative and proud of how well I can do art. I want other people to feel happy when they see it.
Darryl
Jetty to the Horizon
22cm x 22cm
Sold
I walk along this jetty . It is calm. The water is blue and very deep. I think the timber has nice white, gray and black hues in it.
Sharyn
Horseshoe Harmony
35cm x 20cm
$15
Fancy horseshoes, painted and decorated with love and harmony. Combining two passions of mine, horses and painting. Repurposing used horseshoes into art.
Nathan
Underwater Dolphins
50cm x 40cm
Not for sale
Layering paint and sea shells I created Dolphins playing in the sea.
Katherine
Echoes of Conviction: Port Arthur's Resolute Heritage
42cm x 52cm
$80
A historic site of convict barracks of Port Arthur Penitentiary, Tasmania. I was drawn to this site because of the timeless architecture and the history of the location. I'm in awe of the longevity of the structure.
Brandon
Self-Expression
41cm x 51cm
$25
My artwork is an expression showing how happy I am when I'm with my friends during our art program.
Melissa
Jumping Horse
40cm x 50cm
Not for sale
I usually like to paint Pokemon, but I wanted to paint a horse for somebody I know. I really like how it turned out. I might paint more horses.
Neville
Superhero Cabaret
1m x 40cm
$110
This piece of work is an acrylic painted foam head sculpture featuring three heads inspired by my vision and love of theatre, writing and film.
Kimberley
We Mermaid to be Friends Forever
40cm x 50cm
Not for sale
This is a gift I made for one of my best friends. I think she will love it forever because she loves mermaids. I spent a lot of time making little holes with a hole punch to make the fish tail. I practiced painting and doing the textured parts on another canvas before doing this one.
Anne
Life by the Mountains
40cm x 50cm
Not for sale
The process of creating this painting started with the mountains, then I added the flowers and then to finish it off it needed some different types of life.
Helena
Feelings of a Puppet
Not for sale
My art that shows how feelings can come and go, and all mix together at once. One feeling may seem like another and there might be even more deep down.
Benjamin
Handy
25cm x 20cm
Sold
For this artwork I felt like using my hands. It felt good.
Ben
Contrast of Luminance
45cm x 32cm
Sold
The blue-light is a fairy tale about a person who finds a magical object that offers him a supernatural helper.
Jeffrey
The Tree of Life
40cm x 60cm
Sold
For me, this piece is a symbol of new beginnings and growth.
Steven
Fun at the Circus
46cm x 61cm
Not for sale
I love the circus, and wanted to paint how it makes me feel when I go. This circus is like the one that comes to Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills. A country circus.
Stacey
Kookaburras Suprise
40cm x 30cm
Sold
I wanted to paint a kookaburra laughing but fate decided for me. I accidentally smudged the paint brush just above the beak and a butterfly was born. So my laughing kookaburra turned into surprised but his personality is bigger now. I would have created more but unfortunately too many health issues popped up this year so this is my laughing at life little guy. Even through lifes suprises we still push on and create.
Joan
Dolphins at Play
40cm x 50cm
Sold
Dolphins playing because I love watching dolphins playing and jumping in the ocean. I love the colours and they make me smile. I very much enjoyed painting this.
Suzanne
Stormy Summers, Tasmania
45cm x 32cm
Sold
Storms affect all parts of Tasmania and can happen anywhere and at any time of the year. Severe storms may cause flash flooding, major damage to trees, buildings and powerlines, and be accompanied by torrential rain, strong winds, large hailstones and lightning. I captured this image while on a respite trip in Launceston, Tasmania in early 2024.
Emma
Meow
41cm x 51cm
Not for sale
I painted a cat because I like cats. Cats make me feel calm too.
Charmaine
Shadows
28cm x 23cm
Not for sale
I like photography and I like to take photos, I like this photo a lot.
Jake
Jake's Photo
28cm x 23cm
Not for sale
I like taking photos of landscapes and this one really stood out to me.
Tessa
Heart
40cm x 30cm
Sold
Heart to me means love, caring and passion. Heart is support, friendship and family, and achievement. This is a representation of these things from my heart.
Denise
Dancing People
40cm x 30cm
Not for sale
I like Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze, I wanted to paint that.
Teegan
Ethereal Passage
30cm x 46cm
Sold
I created this photo at Port Noarlunga Beach. I was trying different perspectives and editing styles and this photo with this edit appealed to me most.
Susan
Beautiful Mandala
43cm x 43cm
Not for sale
This is a beautiful mandala. Look at it, it's lovely, isn't it? I used lots of colour to make it bright and stand out. I am doing this one for my sister, I will give it to her for her birthday. I often give my art as gifts to loved ones.
Sophie
Sunset Beach Surfer
120cm x 54cm
Sold
I did researching on materials with my support, from there I purchased what I needed to start. I asked for some assistance in cutting out my shape and began breaking up my tiles. Thise is my surfboard featuring mosaic and painting. I chose to do this for something a little different. Unlike anything I have entered in past years, but still about my love for the beach and ocean.
David
Everlasting Love
30cm x 40cm
Not for sale
Beauty and the Beast is one of my favourite stories. The Beast is my illness. The rose in the story, is my soul waiting to bloom. The blue in the background of my painting represents my connection with my sailboat which gave me peace of mind and appreciation of nature.
Tyson
The Overlander
A4
$20
A photo of the Overlander which travels the journey between Adelaide and Melbourne.
Joel
Barry, Harry and the Crocodile
32cm x 45cm
Sold
Harry and Barry were doing boating and fishing over the river, and then they screamed ''Ahhhhh, it's a crocodile in the river!!'' and ''run off''. Oh dear, that would be not good in reality...
David
Customised Ute
A3
Not for sale
I drew this customised ute to show all the different things a ute can have. It took me hours and I have been very excited to finally show it.
Nicole
Hush Little Baby
50cm x 40cm
Sold
This artwork is about the less obvious opression and silencing (both external and internalised) that all women experience that contributes to the experience of domestic violence by so many women. Women with disabilities are the victims of domestic violence at a particularity high rate.
Cadeyrn
Creative Lights
62cm x 45cm
Sold
We love Queensland. It lives up to its sunny potential with a big focus on outdoor activities. My family and I had a wonderful time dining alfresco together while we were there. This imge was captured from our Queensland home, I call it Creative Lights.
Luke
NASCAR Inspired Paint Jobs & Liveries
87cm x 62cm
Not for sale
Back in the 90's in America, NASCAR came up with incredible liveries for their "Cartoon Network Wacky Racing" brand. I designed these pictures myself then created this collage. Each car design was heavily inspired by the American race stock car racing series.
Roslyn
Texture
40cm x 50cm
Sold
I love creating and trying different artwork mediums. This was my first time trying textured painting and I am pleased with the result.
Zoe
Grasping Onto Sanity
25cm x 33cm
Not for sale
This is my cat Mitzy. She is a right menace. She's a rescue cat with a crooked tooth so she's perfectly imperfect.
Catherine
Brightness
40cm x 50cm
Not for sale
I wanted to paint something happy and bright, sunflowers are beautiful and I thought they could bring happiness to everyone because they bring happiness to me.
Allen
Lizard with Butterflies
45cm x 30cm
Sold
I created this piece in the Riverland Engage Woodwork program from recycled wood, drawn and decorated with pyrography and paint pens. I really enjoyed the process and am very proud of the results.
Katherine
Mavis
40cm x 50cm
Sold
Mavis is my favourite character, I really enjoyed getting to paint her. I really enjoy painting characters.
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