Community
6 August, 2026
Kate’s spirit in first solo show
Although she has painted, woven, spun, stitched and fashioned beautiful objects for decades, this is the first time her diverse body of work has been brought together in a solo exhibition.
A LIFETIME of creativity, resourcefulness and quiet spiritual reflection came together for the opening of Kate Giakimis’ first solo exhibition at Mallee Creatives in Charlton last week.
Friends, family and art lovers gathered for the exhibition’s opening, where Kate spoke warmly about the role creativity has played throughout her life.
Although she has painted, woven, spun, stitched and fashioned beautiful objects for decades, this is the first time her diverse body of work has been brought together in a solo exhibition.
For Kate, art has never been separate from everyday life.
“I believe art is part of homemaking,” she told those gathered on opening night.
It is a philosophy evident not only throughout the exhibition but also in Kate’s Charlton home, where paintings, textiles, handmade furnishings and recycled creations fill almost every available space.
Her art is not simply made to be viewed; it is created to bring beauty, meaning and usefulness into the places where people live.
Biblical themes, particularly stories and imagery from the Old Testament, underpin several of Kate’s works.
On opening night, she described exploring ideas of meeting in the wilderness and attempting to render what is forthcoming, imagining what revelation might look like when expressed through colour, fibre and form.
That deep spirituality is something curator Chris Wyatt believes gives Kate’s work its particular strength. “Kate’s work emanates from a profound spirituality, and a deep commitment to place and the spirit of place.”
Chris described her hooked rugs and weavings as capturing “an inner world of deep profound thought, spirituality and a long journey of serious biblical study.”
Alongside these works are striking interpretations of the Mallee landscape and the places Kate has come to know. Salt and Light – Lake Tyrrell shimmers with subtle colour, while 2017 Harvest Charlton transforms the glare and heat of a 40-degree summer day into a vibrant celebration of harvest, movement and abundance.
The exhibition runs until September 6.
Read More: Charlton