There is something quietly electric about the way art moves when it leaves its home.
Tucked into Darlinghurst, Sydney, RAINBOW STUDIOS, founded by visionary duo Brent Gold and Jade Gillett, has built a reputation as more than just a gallery. Conceived as a space where art, design and meaningful creative connection intersect, it is a fluid, ever-evolving destination where contemporary voices meet across disciplines, mediums, a cheeky cocktail and borders. Through a dynamic calendar of exhibitions, events and collaborative experiences, the studio champions both emerging and established local and international artists, fostering a creative community that feels as thoughtfully curated as it is instinctive.
But this winter, the gallery shifted its rhythm.
With Rainbow on the Road, RAINBOW STUDIOS stepped beyond its Sydney base and into the salt-tinged air of Byron Bay, marking the beginning of a new chapter that feels as much about movement as it is about art itself.
A Gallery In Transit
The Byron Bay takeover unfolded across two distinct exhibitions, each with its own opening moment. This deliberately placing invited audiences to experience the work as a journey rather than a single event.
The first chapter introduced I Heart by Melbourne duo Gelbell, a celebrated body of work brought out of the city and into a new context. On view for a limited time, the exhibition offered a rare opportunity for Northern Rivers audiences to engage with the remaining original works in person. The pieces felt less like static works and more like travelling artefacts, carrying their own narrative across geography.
Then came the second act.
A curated group exhibition brought together a compelling mix of emerging and established artists from across Sydney, Melbourne and Byron Bay, alongside international voices. Names like Angus White, Bella McGoldrick, Cat Yenn and Jakob Juul sat alongside new debuts, forming a collection that felt both expansive and thoughtfully curated.
It was not just an exhibition. It was a convergence.
Why Byron? Why Now?
Byron Bay has long been synonymous with creative migration. It is a place where artists, designers, creatives, characters and thinkers drift towards slower rhythms and open landscapes. Bringing Rainbow Studios into this environment felt intentional.
Rainbow on the Road did not attempt to replicate the Sydney space. Instead, it responded to its surroundings, creating an experience that felt lighter, more transient and deeply connected to place.
In doing so, it tapped into something larger: a shift in how art is being experienced. Less fixed. Less formal. More immersive.
More human.
Photography via RAINBOW STUDIOS
The Road Ahead
What makes Rainbow on the Road particularly compelling is what it represents.
This is more than a one-off exhibition. It marks the beginning of a travelling model that challenges the traditional gallery format, reimagining how audiences discover and engage with contemporary art.
At a time when connection is as important as the destination, RAINBOW STUDIOS is embracing movement, community and discovery. Each exhibition creates a sense of place while remaining open to reinvention, proving that meaningful cultural experiences don’t have to exist within four walls.
We can’t wait to see where Rainbow on the Road travels next, and to discover the artists and stories it brings with it.
Because sometimes, the most memorable art isn’t confined to a gallery. It’s found along the journey too.
paper mâché's Curated Selection from Rainbow on The Road
One of the defining qualities of Rainbow on the Road was the breadth of artists brought together under one roof. Spanning emerging and established practices from Australia and abroad, the exhibition reflected RAINBOW STUDIOS’ instinct for discovering artists with distinctive voices and compelling perspectives.
Rather than attempting to capture every story from the exhibition, we’ve curated a selection of the artists whose work resonated most with us. Together, they represent the diversity of the exhibition itself, from expressive abstraction and meticulous realism to bold experimentation and deeply personal narratives. Below, discover our edit of the artists who left a lasting impression, alongside a selection of works that are still available to collect.
Bella Mcgoldrick
Byron Bay artist Bella McGoldrick has a remarkable ability to transform the everyday into something extraordinary. Working primarily in coloured pencil, her hyper-realistic drawings capture everything from food and interiors to fleeting moments of travel with astonishing precision. Beneath the technical mastery is a quiet sense of nostalgia, inviting viewers to slow down and appreciate the beauty found in ordinary rituals and familiar objects.
Emma Creasey
There is an undeniable softness to Emma Creasey‘s practice. Her paintings balance expressive brushwork with a refined colour palette, creating dreamlike compositions that feel both contemporary and timeless. Blurring the line between abstraction and landscape, her work evokes emotion through atmosphere rather than narrative, making each piece feel deeply personal while remaining open to interpretation.
JEDDA Clay
JEDDA, the artist Jedda Purchase creates sculptural, abstract works that explore texture, form and materiality. Earthy tones, layered surfaces and organic shapes give each piece a tactile quality that feels grounded yet architectural. Whether painting or mixed media, her practice is defined by a quiet confidence that perfectly complements the thoughtful curatorial vision of RAINBOW STUDIOS.
Papou
International artist Papou brings a playful and expressive energy to the exhibition through bold compositions that blur the boundaries between contemporary art, illustration and design. Characterised by vibrant colour, graphic forms and an unmistakable visual language, the work feels instinctive, joyful and impossible to overlook. It is exactly the kind of globally minded contemporary practice that adds another layer to the exhibition’s diverse roster of artists.
Phoebe Stone
Sydney artist Phoebe Stone finds beauty in the rituals of everyday life. Through expressive still lifes and intimate domestic scenes, she combines painterly mark-making with rich colour and texture to celebrate shared meals, collected objects and quiet moments at home. Her work feels warm, lived-in and deeply human, reminding us that the simplest subjects often hold the greatest emotional resonance.
Tabitha Hope
Tabitha Hope’s work is both delicate and quietly captivating. Exploring themes of nature, femininity and memory, her paintings are layered with subtle detail, creating compositions that reward closer inspection. Balancing softness with confidence, her practice reflects a thoughtful contemporary perspective and rounds out the exhibition with a sense of calm, beauty and introspection.
RAINBOW ON THE ROAD A GROUP EXHIBITION
paper mâché's selection
Consequences
BELLA MCGOLDRICK
MASH STUDIOS
Sardines & The Mediterranean Sea
SAMMY VEALL
