Discover Ipswich Visitor Guide 2025

IPSWICH CULTURE

Discover Ipswich’s vibrant arts scene

“Through my work, I strive to teach people how to truly look – how to observe themselves and the world around them. It’s like piecing together a puzzle; each observation helps reveal a deeper understanding of who we are and how we connect with one another.” He likened his residency as validation that he’s on the right path. “The residency at the Ipswich Art Workshop gave me something I’ve rarely had: time and space. It felt like someone finally said, “We believe in you. Go make your art.” Usually, it’s more like, “Have you considered a real job? Maybe “So, to have a dedicated space where I could create that was public and official was a gift. I transported my studio – easel, paints, brushes – into the workshop and got to work on my Cannon Fodder Blue series, inviting the men in my life to sit for me and to share their stories. It’s an exploration of the masculine, but ultimately, it’s a fragment of our shared human experiences. Through these paintings, I hope to help people observe the world – and themselves – a little more deeply, like piecing together a puzzle to reveal something meaningful, and if I was to tell you it outright, you couldn't learn it to know it.” “While at the workshop, I met the Ipswich art community – artists, art workers, and curious passersby who wandered in.” One of those passersby was Jim. “He was right on the cusp of living on the street and style. His beard was mustard and skin tannen’d (with a leathery appearance). at Bunnings?” Or, worst of all, the banal trickle of silence.

He jokingly said he should have his portrait done, I quickly grabbed my camera and lined him up where he stood. He gave me this look that burst down the camera. I asked his name, and he was gone.” Mr Inwood painted Jim’s mural while still in residence at the Ipswich Art Workshop. “Later a lady recognised Jim instantly from his portrait.” “A few days later I was hoping he would wander past. On the last day of the residency, I spotted him, so I chased him down the street with his portrait in my hand. He thought I was after him for nefarious reasons, jinking around a corner, darting off to safety. He finally pulled up when he recognised me. “This residency wasn’t just about the work I created; it was about the connections I made. It reminded me how art can bridge gaps between strangers and create lasting memories. While I haven’t lived in Ipswich for long, this opportunity made me feel like a part of its vibrant creative fabric.

Christopher Inwood is a local artist, known for his Cannon Fodder Blue series, featuring portraits of men. Last year he was one of the first artists to take up a residency at the newly created Ipswich Art Workshop, a new space for creatives to showcase their talents and hold workshops. We caught up with Mr Inwood to talk all things art. “The public artwork I love most in Ipswich is Fintan Magee's mural on South Street," he said. Magee’s work has this raw, poetic quality that draws you in. It feels like it’s whispering secrets about the world while demanding you look closer. That’s what great art should do – it should show you something on the edge of understanding to entice you in. Ipswich is lucky to have pieces like that, and I think the arts scene here is on the rise. There’s a quiet energy brewing – an undercurrent of creativity. From public art to local initiatives, it feels like Ipswich is creating a space where artists can develop their voice.” Mr Inwood said he’d start at the Ipswich Art Gallery if he was taking someone on an arts tour in Ipswich. “I’d start at the Ipswich Art Gallery – it’s a cornerstone of the arts community, always showcasing something thought-provoking. Then we’d wander through d’Arcy Doyle Place to the Community Gallery and Ipswich Art Workshop, and then wander soaking up the murals, old buildings and street art, like Magee’s or Kitt Bennett's at the (Queensland Museum Rail Workshops) rail museum. “And I’d finish with people watching, (our favourite activity) hoping the hot laps are on.” When it comes to his own art Mr Inwood said it was how he made sense of the world. “I see myself as an observer of people – their quirks, stories, and struggles. Humans are fascinating creatures, navigating their own complexities while sharing this world with others. It’s not always easy to see our traits or pitfalls clearly, and that’s where art steps in. For me, creating is a way of making sense of it all, both for myself and, hopefully, for others.

Just Jim Oil, acrylic and charcoal on wood. Gifted to Jim

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