“Let Colour Speak”
A mother-daughter art show
“Let Colour Speak” is a duet exhibition by me, Karen McPhail-Bell, and my mother, Jennie Bell, showing 1–12 October 2025 at Robina Art Gallery.
This exhibition explores colour as a “third voice” in our intergenerational dialogue where we investigate memory, place and identity through our painting practice.
The show will offer the Gold Coast and nearby communities a deeply personal arts experience that explores how colour can open up creative expression and connection.
View the show catalogue
About our process
Our collaboration involves alternately identifying a colour palette to which we each respond with our own swatch of “colour recipes”. We then use these to create our painting response.
We have also co-created some paintings directly together, adding another level of collaboration through colour for this show. The image adjacent shows us in process creating a painting that is part of the show.
Our collaborative art practice emerged as a lifeline when COVID-19 restrictions kept us unexpectedly apart for years, while I (Karen) lived in the U.S.A.. What began as video calls where we shared colour prompts and art play, has evolved into a rich artistic conversation. “Let Colour Speak” shares our creative dialogue and collaboration, inviting the community and viewers to engage in their own self-expression through colour too.
“Meet the artist” event
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At the Robina Community Centre, 196 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina, Queensland.
The Gallery itself is inside the same building as the library.
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The Robina Art Gallery is open during the same hours as the library next to it. At the time of writing this these hours are:
Saturday: 9 am–4 pm
Sunday: 9 am–4 pm
Monday: 8:30 am–5 pm
Tuesday: 8:30 am–5 pm
Wednesday: 8:30 am–5 pm
Thursday: 8:30 am–7 pm
Friday: 8:30 am–5 pmDo check the Library website here just in case there was a change.
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Join us at the ‘Meet the artist’ event at 12-1pm, Friday 3 October. We would love to see you there!
Both of us will be onsite for a couple hours each day during the exhibition (health permitting). If you want to prearrange a time to visit with us, please contact me here.
While we are onsite, we will have some community art activities available for any visitors who would like to experience their own way of letting colour speak in their lives.
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Yes, all pieces in our show will be available for purchase. However, this show is for everyone - whether or not you are thinking about purchasing - so please come in and say hi, and enjoy viewing the show.
You can view Karen’s artwork in the show available for purchase here.
Sign up to see the behind-the-scenes creation
The Arts Development Fund is a City of Gold Coast Council fund that supports the Gold Coast’s creative community by fostering professional pathways and skills development, contributing to our city’s vibrant lifestyle.