17 Disabled Artists Take Center Stage in Bathurst Show

When Jordan Valageorgiou describes his new exhibition as "John Cena meets Jesus," you know this isn't your typical art show. Acts of Inheritance, now on display at Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, features 17 disabled artists from We Are Studios proving that great art comes from everywhere.

The exhibition brings together an eclectic mix of work: music videos, wrestling-themed installations, dreamlike cloudscapes, and even an interactive paper doll exploring depression. Each piece tells a different story about identity, family, and lived experience.

Valageorgiou, who curated the show and co-founded We Are Studios, welcomes all reactions, even critical ones. When someone called the exhibition "self-indulgent," he celebrated the honest feedback.

"We don't want the tyranny of low expectations," he explains. "We want to be treated like everyone else. Like it, love it, or hate it; these are all valid opinions."

Artist Miah Tito-Barratt created Nebulous, a peaceful cloudscape that invites viewers to see different shapes and meanings. The work reflects their experience as a neurodiverse and genderqueer person, asking audiences to think about how we form our identities and worldviews.

Leanne Larwood's Dress the Depressed offers visitors a chance to "fix" a life-size magnetic paper doll version of herself. The playful piece responds to years of unsolicited advice about her depression and opens conversations about invisible illnesses.

"Before finding art, I was feeling very isolated," Larwood shares. "Art became the outlet to help me broach topics that are hard to put into words."

Why This Inspires

We Are Studios formed in 2023 when artists decided to take control of their own representation. The collective is 100 percent disability-led, ensuring the artists maintain creative control and define success on their own terms.

The group meets weekly in Blacktown, Western Sydney, giving about 20 artists space to develop their projects together. They've built something bigger than an art collective: a community where disabled artists support each other's visions without compromise.

The exhibition also challenges assumptions about Western Sydney as a cultural hub. "I hope visitors leave knowing that great art doesn't just live near the Harbour Bridge," Larwood says.

Acts of Inheritance proves that when artists control their own stories, the results are honest, powerful, and beautifully diverse.