On Saturday, SUNLIT, UNSPOKEN opened.
I'm still finding my way back into the familiar rhythm of the studio after it all.
Standing in a room full of paintings I have carried with me for so long, I kept thinking about how far I have come.
Nearly thirty years ago, I could not have imagined this room. This home turned gallery. These people.
It was so lovely to hear your feedback, to discover what you see and feel in the paintings, and to share this partly unspoken celebration together, through our smiles and gestures as much as our words.
But what moved me most was you, my friends.
Everyone is carrying so much right now. Full lives, full hearts and full calendars.
And still, you came.
You stood in front of the work. You gave it your time and attention.
That is a kind of generosity I don't take lightly.
It humbled me.
I also want to be honest about the harder side of it all.
Finding the right people for my art is not simple.
The culture surrounding exhibitions can sometimes feel like a performance of selling and being seen, and that sits strangely beside the way the work is actually born.
Slowly. Quietly. Sometimes in the dawning light, before colour has even arrived.
I'm still trying to find a loving way through it. A way to live from my art without hardening myself, or turning the paintings into products.
It feels complicated to me.
And it is not easy to be an artist in Australia. The distances are vast, the support can feel thin, and I find myself having to choose this life again and again.
To be a painter.
And to let that be enough.
I create art.
And yet, at the very same time, I am watching a dream I have held for so long begin to take form in the real world.
So where do I want to be?
Over the next year or two, I would love to see my work held by a gallery that feels like a true home for it.
A gallery whose walls, and whose visitors, already understand this kind of painting. A place that can meet the work where it is now.
Not somewhere I have to explain myself, but somewhere the paintings are simply welcomed, and where the people who come are the ones who will find something of themselves within them.
And in ten years?
When I close my eyes, I see a solo exhibition in a major gallery.
An opening night that is warm and full. A room alive with people standing in front of the paintings, feeling something move within them.
And I imagine people taking a work home easily, happily, without hesitation or awkwardness.
The exchange is simple and joyful, the way receiving a gift should feel.
I want to say these things out loud because I used to be shy about wanting them.
It isn't about being seen for the sake of being seen.
It's about the work finding the people it was made for. About creating a life where I can continue painting because of that exchange, with love on both sides.
And somewhere amongst all these thoughts about what might come next, I keep returning to how far I have already come.
Not to measure myself against anything, but simply to say thank you.
To the part of me that kept painting when no one was watching.
To the country and landscapes that have held me.
And to every person who stood beside me on Saturday.
Nearly thirty years ago, I could not have pictured that room, those paintings, or the people gathered around them.
And yet, there we were.
So perhaps the dreams I hold for the next ten years aren't so far away after all.
If I couldn't have imagined Saturday back then, why shouldn't I trust the next picture too?
With all my love,
Kirana xx
What's On:
SUNLIT, UNSPOKEN | Exhibition Open Until 28 November
What a beautiful beginning to SUNLIT, UNSPOKEN.
After a very special opening weekend, my home gallery is still filled with colour, contemplation and the wonderful conversations that come from sharing art with others.
And if you weren't able to join us for the opening, there is still time to visit.
SUNLIT, UNSPOKEN brings together two bodies of work, each exploring a different way of seeing and feeling the world.
The first is outward – sunlit.
Paintings filled with colour, light and the quiet joy that rises unexpectedly from ordinary moments.
The second moves inward – unspoken.
Here, the paintings slow down, inviting contemplation, stillness and the discovery of feelings and small truths that only reveal themselves when the noise falls away.
Together, these two collections invite us to slow down, to notice, and perhaps discover something that has been quietly waiting for us all along.
I'd love for you to experience the exhibition in person. Bring a friend, gather a few of your favourite people, or make an afternoon of it. There is something very special about sharing art and discovering what others see and feel within the same paintings.
Exhibition Details
SUNLIT, UNSPOKEN
A solo exhibition by Kirana Haag
On display until 28 November 2026
Kirana's Home Gallery
Opening Hours
Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
10am–2pm
Private Viewings & Virtual Tours
If these times don't suit, I'd be delighted to arrange a private viewing or personal tour via Zoom.
I also warmly welcome interior designers, architects and those sourcing original artwork for residential, hospitality or commercial spaces. I'm always happy to discuss individual works, scale, placement and possibilities for your projects.
There is still time to wander, to look a little longer, and to find the painting that speaks to you.
I can't wait to welcome you.
With love,
Kirana xx
Open Studio + Walk in Art Class
Next Dates - 14th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 23rd, 25th, & 28th of November, 2nd, 5th, 16th & 19th of December
Kirana’s studio is open on Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm, and most Saturdays from 9am to 12pm (see dates above). You’re warmly invited to drop in, have a look around the studio, enjoy a cup of tea or hot chocolate, and stay for a relaxed chat. There’s no pressure and no expectations – just an open door and a welcoming space.
By popular demand, Saturdays also include a walk-in art class from 10am to 12pm. This relaxed and friendly session is open to everyone – whether you’re an experienced artist or simply curious to explore your creative side. All materials are provided, $70 per person (GST included), and the focus is on enjoying the process of making art in a calm, supportive environment.
We look forward to welcoming you into the studio.
Art Class Details:
10am – 12pm
$70 per person (GST included)
All materials included
We look forward to welcoming you into the studio.
One on One Art Lessons
Can be booked suitable to your timetable, tailored to your needs and all ages.
$110 p/h (GST inc) | All art materials included
ArtSHINE x Kirana Haag collection on Threadless
Friends & Family Code: FAMd6e722b
Final Notes
All the above are also great gift ideas for a loved one who would benefit from some breathing space and would love to try something new.
If you would like more information on any of these workshops or to book, simply reply to this email or contact me on 0448446466.
With lots of love,
Kirana xx