Susan Ryman Exhibition Opening
Published on 28 July 2025
PACC Celebrates the Art of Susan Ryman at Official Exhibition Opening
In and Out the Windows: much of the last decade in coloured pencil
A vibrant crowd gathered at PACC on Saturday 26 July to celebrate the opening of In and Out the Windows: much of the last decade in coloured pencil, a major solo exhibition by acclaimed artist Susan Ryman. The gallery was a buzz with conversation and admiration as visitors explored the intricate, deeply personal works that span over ten years of Susan’s creative practice.
The exhibition, curated by Joseph and the PACC team, brings together a significant body of work that explores the natural world and intimate moments of domestic life with extraordinary technical skill and sensitivity. Attendees were invited to engage closely with the works, gaining insight into Susan’s process and artistic voice.
The exhibition was officially opened by Ahn Wells and Dino Consalvo from STRAITJACKET art space in Broadmeadow, long-time supporters of Susan’s career. Ahn spoke warmly about Susan’s evolution as an artist and her steadfast commitment to the humble yet powerful medium of coloured pencil.
“Her ability to render insects, plants, animals, flowers in coloured pencil is unparalleled,” Wells noted. “Her works might be 2D, but when you look at them you are forced into a 3D world that celebrates the magnificent fragilities and elusive flaws that life presents.”
The exhibition highlights Ryman’s mastery of coloured pencil—an often-overlooked medium that, in her hands, becomes a tool of incredible depth, emotion, and technical prowess.
At its core, In and Out the Windows is a poetic meditation on life—its awkwardness, ugliness, loveliness, and warmth. Ryman invites us not only to observe these truths but to be gently hypnotised by their quiet beauty.
“Life is scary and no one really knows why we are here or what we are supposed to do,” Wells concluded. “Somehow, Susan’s drawings make these questions comforting. We are not alone in these thoughts—Susan has already drawn them.”
Susan Ryman’s exhibition is now open at PACC until 6 September 2025.
Step into a world of delicate intricacy and quiet power—and see life as you’ve never quite seen it before.
Special thanks to our sponsor, Lisa McGuigan Wines, for providing the delicious wines enjoyed by guests on opening night.
Take a look at some moments from the day below! Photos by Michèle Heibel