The aim of this project is:

To present an exhibition of Dolores’s botanical illustrations to celebrate and raise awareness of the diversity and significance of Australia's native flora. The works include her most recent collections of native terrestrial orchids and endemic Grevilleas from the Grampians / Gariwerd region. The exhibition will be displayed at WAMA's National Centre for Environmental Art in Halls Gap / Budja Budja in Victoria to coincide with Springtime and the Pomonal Flower Show in 2026. The exhibition and associated workshops will highlight the importance of botanical art, provide in-person experiences of nature connection through art and develop interest and skills in botanical illustration.

Project description

BASA Member Dolores Skowronski-Malloni will work in collaboration with Francesca Valmorbida and Byron Grant-Preece from the WAMA Foundation to present an exhibition of Dolores’s botanical illustrations to celebrate and raise awareness of the diversity and significance of Australia's native flora.

The works include Dolores’s most recent collections of native terrestrial orchids and endemic Grevilleas from the Grampians / Gariwerd region. The exhibition will be displayed at the WAMA Foundation's National Centre for Environmental Art in Halls Gap / Budja Budja in Victoria to coincide with Springtime and the Pomonal Flower Show in 2026. The exhibition and associated workshops will highlight the importance of botanical art, provide in-person experiences of nature connection through art and develop interest and skills in botanical illustration.

It is an honour for the exhibition to be presented at WAMA's National Centre for Environmental Art which is a world-class gallery that is dedicated to championing contemporary art practice that is deeply engaged with nature. This venue and organisation aligns amazingly with BASA's aims and can be a new platform for Botanical Art. Through this exhibition, Dolores wishes to support WAMA’s vision to be a place “where art meets nature” and where visitors can experience, connect, appreciate and be inspired by art and nature. The team at the WAMA Foundation are instrumental in supporting the continuation of Dolores’s work and bringing the concept of an exhibition to life.

Taking place during Spring 2026 when the Grampians / Gariwerd region and the WAMA Endemic Botanic Garden come alive with flowering plants, the exhibition will coincide with the Pomonal Flower Show which is a fantastic event that attracts thousands of visitors to the region for a spectacular showcase of Australian Native plants. The exhibition and Flower Show will be complimentary events that can extend the current audience for Botanical Art.

This project will commence in March 2026 and culminate with the exhibition opening in October 2026.

This project will create a lasting impact by:

• celebrating the tradition of Botanical Art through the exhibition and workshops.
• celebrating and raising awareness of the diversity and significance of Australian flora specifically the native, endangered and endemic species of the Grampians / Gariwerd region.
• expanding interest in botanical art and supporting people to learn, develop and enhance skills to create botanical illustrations.
• supporting WAMA's ongoing education and conservation work to inspire visitors to explore the interconnection between art and nature, to protect endemic and threatened flora and to achieve a more sustainable future.