The Torch: Confined 17 at Glen Eira City Council Gallery

There’s a quiet force running through Confined 17 – one that speaks in stories of survival, connection and creative resurgence. Now in its 17th year, the landmark exhibition gathers 497 works by 424 First Nations artists from across Victoria, each with lived experience of incarceration, transforming Glen Eira City Council Gallery into a space of truth-telling and cultural strength.

Alongside a vast exhibition of paintings, expect to encounter woven forms, carved emu eggs, ceramics and unexpected pieces such as a handmade woollen rug and a painted guitar. Together they reflect the breadth of artistic practice nurtured through The Torch’s statewide program for First Nations people impacted by incarceration. This year, a large-scale video installation anchors the exhibition, sharing intimate interviews filmed on Country and in the artists’ homes, offering insight into the personal and creative journeys behind the works.

A dedicated gallery space foregrounds the voices of women artists – a growing cohort within the program supported through regular Tiddas Group gatherings. Across the exhibition, themes of kinship, healing and ancestral knowledge emerge, grounded in culture and carried through contemporary expression.

Since 2009, Confined has carved out a vital platform for First Peoples to share their stories while drawing attention to the over-representation of First Nations Australians in criminal legal system. It’s also a space of tangible impact: all works are available to purchase, with 100 per cent of the artwork price going directly to the artists.

Running from May 1 to June 14, Confined 17 is accompanied by a program of weaving workshops, live music, talks and screenings, plus free weekly tours and live art sessions.

Find out more and plan your visit.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with The Torch.