14 July 2025

SAM Open 2025, Shepparton Art Museum’s (SAM) annual open-call group exhibition, returned to the museum’s Hugh D.T Williamson Community Gallery on Saturday 5 July. Celebrating and showcasing the creativity of the artistic community across the Goulburn Valley and the Hume Regions, the 66 works on display in SAM Open 2025 span an array of styles and approaches, including photography, painting, textile, ceramics, and sculpture. The exhibition provides an opportunity for local practitioners to share their creativity with audiences and present their work in dialogue with exhibitions by nationally recognised Australian artists.

The callout for entries to the exhibition this year yielded 67 submissions from artists and creatives living or working in the Goulburn Valley and Hume regions, with 66 featured in the exhibition. In a change from previous years, no exhibition theme was set for this iteration; instead, artists were invited to submit a recent artwork that reflects their unique creative practice.

Caroline Esbenshade, SAM Curator – Community, says of the exhibition:

“With no theme to this year’s SAM Open, local creatives seized this opportunity to
demonstrate their practice and recent creative obsessions. I feel that there is a magical and adventurous undercurrent to this year’s show—glimpses of the fantastical and different means of transportation hint at a wish for an escape from the everyday. Hopefully for audiences, the museum and this exhibition can be that—a refreshing step out of the daily routine.”
SAM Open 2025 is now showing at SAM until 2 November 2025.

ENDS

SAM Open 2025 exhibiting artists:
Meredith Arnold, Robyn Barrow, Mya Bathman, Fasiha Batool, Robbie Bechaz, Greg Beckenham, William Boyer, Eleanor Bridge, Lauren Bull, Valerie Callister, Margaret Carey, ALAN CARTLIDGE, Valerie Clements, Kim D’Arma, Letizia D’Augello, Jan Donaldson, Annie Ernst, Lilly Fidock, Michael Flatt, Jeanette Fry, Wenda Grant, Barbara Gray, Tony Guseli, Kerry Handwerk, Dianne Hanna, Christine Hartley, Annabelle Hayes, Samantha J Heriz, Raymond Hill, Amanda Hocking, Lily Hocking, Belinda Hook, Kirsten Ives, Lois Krake, Janice Laidlaw, Marion Langford, Jodi Lewis, Lucy Ludlow, Peta Manning, Creagh Manning, Elizabeth Masters, Dianne McPherson, Ashleigh Molisak, Dianne Nally, Kat Parker, Joy (Roxy) Parnell, lyn patone, Maria Radanov, Jill Riordan, Makenzie Rivers, Judith Roberts, Carmel Robertson, Lucia Rossi, Angie Russi, Garry Salau, Lehansa Samaranayake, SeraEla, Judy Simm, Lucy Smyth, Gabriella Vittorio, Megan Walker, Janine Wilson, jenny wilson, Vicki Woodhouse, Ruby Wyatt-Carter, Jenny Younger.

About SAM:

Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is located on Yorta Yorta Country, Shepparton, Victoria. As a leading Australian regional art museum, SAM showcases its exhibitions and collections in new and exciting ways, creating a welcoming, inclusive and engaging space for all visitors.

Recognised for its significant Australian ceramics collection and nationally significant collection of Indigenous art, SAM’s programming is designed to be locally relevant and engages with global contemporary ideas. Through its exhibitions, collection, programs and events, SAM creates a place where art helps us to better understand the ancient cultures of this country and contemporary multicultural Australia.

Media enquiries, please contact: Mikela Guseli, SAM Communications Officer.
p: (03) 4804 5009 e: mguseli@sheppartonartmuseum.com.au