Family Portraits — Dreaming Bigger
Every now and then you walk into an exhibition and leave with more than inspiration. You leave with belief. In June 2026, I headed into Surry Hills for the opening of Family Portraits by Jordy Kerwick at Piermarq.
I've followed Jordy's work for years. Like many artists, I first discovered his paintings online long before seeing them in person. What drew me in wasn't technical perfection or adherence to any art world rulebook. It was the rawness. The honesty. The feeling that these paintings were made by someone following instinct rather than permission. As someone who has always identified more with outsider culture than the traditional art establishment, I find that incredibly inspiring.
The thing that resonates most about Jordy's story isn't just the success. It's where he started. A regular Aussie painting because he had to. Building a practice from passion, persistence and a belief in his own vision.
No shortcuts.
No guarantees.
Just making the work and backing himself.
Today his paintings hang in major collections around the world. He lives and works in France with his wife, fellow artist Rachel McCully, and together they've built a creative life that many artists dream about. Yet despite the international success, there remains something distinctly Australian and grounded about his story.
For artists like me working away in a studio on the South Coast, those stories matter. They remind us that big dreams aren't reserved for people born into the right circles or living in the right cities.
They belong to anyone willing to put in the work.
Anyone willing to keep showing up.
Anyone willing to risk failure in pursuit of something meaningful.
Walking through Family Portraits, I found myself studying not just the paintings but the freedom behind them. The confidence to trust intuition. The courage to develop a visual language that is entirely your own.
As artists we spend countless hours alone. Paint. Music. Coffee. Long days in the studio. The occasional surf to reboot. The endless cycle of doubt, experimentation and discovery.
That's why attending exhibitions matters. It's about supporting the people who are out there carrying the torch. It's about celebrating artists who have stayed true to their vision and built something remarkable from humble beginnings. It's about being part of a wider creative community that stretches from small coastal studios to galleries in Paris, New York and beyond.
Seeing Jordy's work in person was a reminder that there are no limits except the ones we place on ourselves. A kid from Australia can end up exhibiting around the world. An outsider can find their audience. A dream can become a life.
I left the exhibition feeling inspired, motivated and eager to get back to the studio. Because sometimes the most powerful thing an artist can do is see what's possible when another artist refuses to stop believing.
And then get back to work. 🤘🎨🌊🏍️
