Paintings by Kelly Southee are on show in "City Aglow", an exhibition in Plant Empire's Glasshouse Gallery from 25 May 2024.

This exhibition visits familiar places and views across Brisbane, including Fortitude Valley, Kangaroo Point, Annerley, Moorooka and Salisbury. Exploring these places from different perspectives, Kelly's paintings zoom in to show snippets of architecture, then pan back out to view the wider context.

Kelly's process involves visiting locations several times to observe how dramatic or soft lighting conditions impact structures and serve to frame scenes. It’s the simple things that excite and make our places grand.

Where to see the art

Kelly Southee: City Aglow
25 May – 13 June 2024
Plant Empire Glasshouse Gallery
281 Station Rd, Yeerongpilly

Purchased works from this exhibition will be available for collection or delivery in the week following the exhibition.

About the artist

"I am passionate about honouring and paying homage to our unique places: the homes, corner stores, and interesting precincts that speak of the past.”

Kelly Southee is a Queensland-based artist. She was born in New Zealand and has lived in Australia since the 1980s. The built environment has been an enduring theme in Kelly’s painting practice for over 25 years. Having studied and worked as an interior architect, she is fascinated by the way we live within our cities, and what we appreciate and value.

Kelly’s scenes often feature dramatic dark colours in the foreground areas. This is a result of a very real thing: she is an artist who needs to stand in the shade a lot, having had too many skin cancers cut out over the years. It’s amazing how a life can inform an art practice!

Follow Kelly on Instagram and Facebook @kellysoutheeartist or at kellysouthee.com.au.