Footscray artist Larissa McFarlane is turning cartwheels of joy after winning a prize at the 13th annual State Trustees CONNECTED art exhibition.
McFarlane’s readily recognisable artwork reflects her daily ritual of performing handstands … she has done at least one every day for the last 11 years to help manage on-going physical and mental illnesses.
McFarlane’s handstands are private moments which bring her grounding, pain relief and joy.
Her paste-up artworks are dotted right across Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay and her latest piece has won the Office of the Public Advocate Prize at the State Trustees CONNECTED art exhibition.
This year’s exhibition features more than 80 artworks shortlisted from almost 500 submissions from new and emerging artists with a disability or experience of mental illness.
The exhibition, which runs until Friday and is promoting social inclusion through art, is curated by Andrew Chew from the No Vacancy Gallery, Federation Square.
Admission is free and most of the displayed artworks are for sale.
