This October, award-winning contemporary artist Gerwyn Davies unveils Shimmer at the Museum of Brisbane—a dazzling new series of photographic portraits created in collaboration with trans and gender diverse young people from Open Doors Youth Service. Presented as part of MELT Festival 2025, the project celebrates resilience, self-expression, and the transformative power of chosen visibility.
Renowned for his theatrical approach to photography, Davies combines sculptural costuming, bold colour, and stylised settings to create works that are both playful and profound. For Shimmer, he worked closely with 12 young people to design and craft elaborate handmade costumes that empower them to present themselves in extraordinary ways while preserving anonymity. Each vivid portrait, exhibited in MoB’s Fairfax Gallery, amplifies the voices of Brisbane’s trans and gender diverse communities.
Beyond the gallery walls, Shimmer extends across the city with large-scale portraits installed in public spaces during MELT Festival. This city-wide exhibition invites audiences to encounter the work in unexpected places, sparking dialogue about identity, creativity, and community.
Gerwyn Davies is MoB’s latest Artist in Residence, bringing his unique vision to Brisbane audiences. His practice spans photography, costume, textiles, and video, with work recognised in national art prizes and held in major collections.
