Portraits of InvisAbility: Art, light, and storytelling take over Town

Published on 23 July 2025

The City of Hobart is proud to present Be Seen, By Choice: Experience InvisAbility in a Whole New Light, a powerful and playful art exhibition celebrating inclusion, access, and diversity through more than 400 individual portraits.

Started in 2013, this year’s Ability to Create program invites the community to experience disability in a whole new light.

As part of the exhibition, the Hobart Town Hall Ballroom has been transformed into a sensory wonderland of projection, soundscapes, and visual storytelling.

Outside, the Town Hall façade has been illuminated with a magical snowfall effect – a whimsical nod to Christmas in July.

Guided by mentor artists Lorenz Cherry, Jude Elliot, and Cary Littleford, the exhibition showcases portraits created by all ability artists, each one a unique expression of identity and imagination.

The exhibition also includes a silent disco with the Kombi Krew, meditation and sensory workshops, live performances and artist Q&As, a winter wonderland installation, and short films and interactive spaces.

Whether dancing under the lights or sitting in stillness with a soundscape, Be Seen, By Choice offers something for every kind of imagination.

This free event is an initiative of the City of Hobart, in partnership with Arts Tasmania, community organisations, and all ability artists.

For more information, visit Ability to Create - City of Hobart, Tasmania Australia

Key Dates

Launch Event: Wednesday 23 July, 11am–1pm

Open Days:

Thursday 24 July, 10am–2pm

Friday 25 July, 10am–2pm

Saturday 26 July, 10am–2pm

Quotes to be attributed to Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds:

“This exhibition is a celebration of creativity, courage, and community.

“It’s about recognising the many ways people choose to be seen and honouring the stories behind every face.

“Ability to Create is more than an art program – it’s a model for access and inclusion.

“It amplifies the voices of people with disability and invites all of us to reflect on how we define visibility and belonging.”

Quotes to be attributed to mentor artist Lorenz Cherry:

“A portrait is more than just an image. It is deeply personal — a reflection of identity and truth.

“At its heart, it’s about authenticity. And most importantly, it’s about choice.

“Creating a large-scale, collaborative exhibition pushed me beyond my usual role as a solo artist.

“In many ways, I had to embody the theme of invisAbility myself — choosing to be seen as a mentor, leader, and creative contributor.”

Quotes to be attributed to Second Echo Ensemble :

“We are here. We are visible. We are the artists of our own end and beginning.

“Our message is about claiming space - unframing ourselves from systems that define us and stepping forward in all our layered complexity.

“This work invites audiences to sit in that tension, to witness beauty, absurdity, and strength all at once.

“For Second Echo Ensemble, Ability to Create isn’t just an exhibition - it’s a space for exchange, leadership, and visibility.

“Our artists have the opportunity to mentor the lead creatives - sharing skills, stories, and creative approaches. It flips the usual script - where disabled people are often seen as recipients of care - and instead celebrates our artists as leaders, teachers, and innovators.

“Being part of this event affirms that disability-led practice has value, and that creative leadership can come from anywhere.

“It’s a chance to build confidence, community, and a more inclusive arts future - together.”