Fitzroy Public Gallery
Artistry, Community, Expression, Equality.
Art for everyone, by everyone.
A bold, vibrant space for emerging artists and community connections on Smith St.
What's Happening?
Birds
Lana Hayward Solo Show
Artist statement: "Birds is a photographic series documenting the unexpected encounters I experienced while walking throughout 2025. Spending much of 2025 on foot allowed me to experience the city at a slower pace, becoming more attentive to the subtle interactions between wildlife, urban environments, and everyday life. Each photograph records a fleeting moment that may otherwise have gone unnoticed.
Alongside these observations, the series considers broader questions about the future of the natural world. Media reports on emerging strains of bird flu prompted reflections on the vulnerability of bird populations, while science fiction narratives such as “Blade Runner “and “Black Mirror”—particularly stories imagining robotic replacements for bees and other animal species—influenced my thinking about the possibility of technological substitutes for living wildlife. These references are not presented as predictions but as a way of reflecting on a future in which authentic encounters with nature may become increasingly rare.
Ultimately, Birds is both a personal archive of walks taken throughout 2025 and a meditation on presence, chance, and the value of documenting the living world as it exists today. The series invites viewers to reconsider the birds that inhabit familiar places and to reflect on the importance of preserving these everyday encounters for the future. "
Birds opens Friday 31st August, 6-9pm and runs until 9th August.
Gallery Hours 11am-5pm Saturdays and Sundays.
"Drag Eagle" by Lana Hayward
"Bird 1" by Lana Hayward
"Pelican Swimming 2" by Lana Hayward
Back to the back
Due to renovation works in the downstairs bar we are no longer using the front entrance on Smith St.
Please enter at LITTLE SMITH ST - that's the lane directly behind Smith St, running between Gertrude and Webb streets.
Welcome to Fitzroy Public Gallery
A vibrant space for emerging artists, Fitzroy Public Gallery is dedicated to showcasing creativity and community spirit, inviting everyone to experience art that resonates with the public.
Get In Touch
Expressions of interest welcome. Open to ideas, big and small.
