Art For Today

Art For Today Art For Today facilitate wellbeing Art Sessions for corporate teams and groups founded by Gemma Donnellan, Professional Artist and Creative Coach

As a professional artist and Connector, I love hosting engaging art sessions, where people take time out, tap into their creative flow and have fun. I specialise in helping women to open up their creativity, let go of self-doubt and limiting beliefs, and embrace the freedom of self-expression that art provides. I believe everyone has an innate artist and through guidance can let go of inhibitions

and unlock their creativity and positive flow, which I believe has a transformational effect on other areas of life. Whether you’ve been dabbling for a while, or haven’t picked up a paintbrush since primary school, you’ll love my art sessions. It’s a nurturing space for women to take time to connect with themselves, ponder, play and converse with others. I have been formally trained and practiced for more than 20 years, I’ve been painting since I could hold a brush. This means I’m well qualified to guide you the painting skills you need to bring out the artist in you. As well as building my own business, I’ve spent many years in a large studio practice collaborating with and working alongside exceptional established artists. This type of knowledge and practical know-how gleaned from the studio you can’t get from YouTube, it’s skills and experience shared over a round table, through exploration, practice and sometimes making mistakes which sometimes turn out to be break-throughs. My art sessions are designed with all this experience in mind, stirring inspiration, imagination and developing positive ways of thinking and expanding, unlocking your unique expression. Throughout my career I have had six solo exhibitions, been a feature artist and exhibited in numerous group shows, all of which have cultivated my diverse style and subject matters. So it doesn’t matter what type of painting interests you, I can guide you. When I’m not holding my art classes or painting, I love, yoga, meditation, gardening and music. Through art I have also had the privilege to organise and take part in numerous fundraising activities which is something I love. The art sessions I offer allow me to mix my love of community, people and entertaining with art and creativity.

What goes on behind Closed Doors?“The Gentleman’s Club” part of my crystal collection of artworks.Have you ever been cur...
29/08/2025

What goes on behind Closed Doors?

“The Gentleman’s Club” part of my crystal collection of artworks.

Have you ever been curious about what goes on behind those guarded doors with polished brass handles? A place where countless handshakes, arguments, deals and power games play out over aged scotch.

You can almost smell the ci**rs and whiskey, the decadent bar, fleur-de-lis wallpaper, oversized billiard table, mahogany panelled walls, worn leather club chairs, and that library thick with old books and older secrets.

The crystal decanter has laid witness to Dining room negotiations making patriarchal decisions that have effected the course of our culture, cities and countries, made over a decades old bottle of whiskey, port or wine.

This artwork feels more masculine for me, a homage to my long-time mentor, Master Artist Robin Stewart, with the swing door in the background and stream of light spilling from underneath the swing door, where waiters move unnoticed, refilling glasses without breaking the conversation.

The Gentleman’s Club will be shown in my solo exhibition The Luminous Archive. I suggest booking a private viewing sept 4-5th if you are interested in this one.

https://www.artfortoday.com.au/crystalcollection

September 6
10am – 4pm
L1, 550 Swan St, Richmond

"Singing in the Kitchen" - The Luminous Archive ExhibitionSinging in the Kitchen reminds me of my sisters and I doing th...
28/08/2025

"Singing in the Kitchen" - The Luminous Archive Exhibition

Singing in the Kitchen reminds me of my sisters and I doing the dishes. We'd either put the radio on or just spontaniously burst into song, but singing was a huge part of our family life.

There was always one sister washing, two drying, fights on who's turn it was and piles of dishes, especially before we got the dishwasher (still my favourite kitchen appliance).

Singing made the job go quickly and heaps more fun, I can still see us singing at the tops of our voices laughing and mucking around, driving Dad slightly crazy.

The vibrant yellow background captures this joy - the way music and singing together could connect us and make life better. Music has and still is a huge part of my life.

It's a good reminder to sing more, let it all out and bring joy into all tasks.

"Singing in the Kitchen" will be part of my solo exhibition - The Luminous Archive.

September 6th
10am - 4pm
L1, 550 Swan St
Richmond

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✨ Art Collectors - Private Preview✨For two days only, before the public opening, collectors are invited to an exclusive ...
26/08/2025

✨ Art Collectors - Private Preview✨

For two days only, before the public opening, collectors are invited to an exclusive preview of Gemma Donnellan’s most significant body of work to date.

"The Luminous Archive: The Crystal Collection" will be held on Sept 4 & 5 before the public opening on Sept 6th. Secure your private appointment, first-choice purchasing for early viewers.

With over 25 years of art practice, The Crystal Collection explores how crystal objects become vessels of ancestral memory, carrying the energetic imprints of celebrations, conversations, and family life across generations.

Each linen artwork is entirely unique. Larger works take over a month to complete, layering colour and light into a contemporary reimagining of crystal’s soul. Through heightened pops of colour and cropped vantage points, Gemma reveals both the seen and unseen energy within crystal’s reflective light.

This collection will only ever be shown together once.
Art for Today,
L1, 550 Swan St Richmond
Private viewings: September 4–5
Public Exhibition: September 6, 10am–4pm

Collectors are invited to reserve their private viewing and experience these works before they enter private and institutional collections.

👉 For Bookings and further information.
https://www.artfortoday.com.au/crystalcollection

✨ Anniversary Crystal ✨The Crystal Anniversary celebrates 15 years of marriage. I’ll never forget my dad walking through...
25/08/2025

✨ Anniversary Crystal ✨

The Crystal Anniversary celebrates 15 years of marriage. I’ll never forget my dad walking through the front door, with this sweet grin, you could tell he was so proud of himself, as he'd brought my mum this gorgeous crystal vase.

This memory became the seed for “Anniversary Crystal” a cornerstone work in the collection and one of my most refined explorations of light and emotion. It resonates with pure love, harmony translated into form.

On Belgian linen, I've orchestrated layers of colour with tonal precision, building an optical depth. What appears soft and effortless is, in truth, an intricate dialogue of technique and intuition. It’s this union of complexity beneath simplicity that defines my practice and makes “Anniversary Crystal” a truly investment-grade artwork.

“Anniversary Crystal” - Gemma Donnellan
The Luminous Archive: The Crystal Collection
Swan St Studios, Level 1, 550 Swan St Richmond
Saturday September 6 | 10am – 4pm

"Shiraz by the Fire" - one of the artworks in The Luminous Archive ExhibitionFor me, this artwork conjures up warmth and...
20/08/2025

"Shiraz by the Fire" - one of the artworks in The Luminous Archive Exhibition

For me, this artwork conjures up warmth and pleasure, it feels like good friends at a dinner party, the wine is flowing, as are the conversations, tall tales and laughter.

Everyone has adjourned to the pool room, you can smell the wood burning as the open fire has just been lit, creating that ambience and a sub-concious primitive sense of safety and belonging.

The old record player is receiving some love with classic tunes, sing-alongs break out as do the dance moves, reminding us of 'all the good times we've had'.

The crystal glasses are part of this evening - little conveyors - watching, holding space for our connection, loose lips and most importantly our wine.

They've witnessed countless nights like this, silent keepers of our most treasured moments.

"Shiraz by the Fire" will be part of my solo exhibition - The Luminous Archive. Each artwork explores how these beautiful objects become silent keepers of our most cherished moments.

Does this make you smile, thinking of past perfect evenings?

"The Luminous Archive: The Crystal Collection"

September 6th | Swan Street Studios

✨ ✨ ✨ SOLO EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT ✨ ✨ ✨After literally years in the making, The Crystal Collection is complete - 22 art...
12/08/2025

✨ ✨ ✨ SOLO EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT ✨ ✨ ✨

After literally years in the making, The Crystal Collection is complete - 22 artworks exploring quantum memory and inherited objects, transforming cut crystal into silent, shimmering archives of generational experience.

Sept 6th will be the first and only time this collection will be exhibited in its entirety at Swan St Studios. Each artwork took over a month to complete - layers of luminous color capturing the complex interplay of reflection and refraction through crystal.

This is more than still life. This is archaeology of elegance, excavating beauty from an era when objects were crafted to be treasured.

Prisms of Light: The Crystal Collection
September 6th, 10am-4pm
L 1, 550 Swan Street, Richmond

✨ Private collector viewings September 3-5 by appointment ✨

✨ Swan St Artist Studios Open Day ✨Make it an outing - Next Saturday.Swan St Artist Studios is opening the doors to the ...
02/08/2025

✨ Swan St Artist Studios Open Day ✨

Make it an outing - Next Saturday.
Swan St Artist Studios is opening the doors to the public and it's going to be fabulous.

You'll get to see my new collection of Ethereal Arches, plus hundreds upon hundreds of stunning contemporary artworks available for purchase direct from the artists' studios. This is your chance to see where the creativity happens, meet the artists, and discover original artworks, you won't find anywhere else.
✨
Saturday 9th August, 1-4pm
Level 1, 550 Swan St Richmond
Free parking out the front

Come and explore, connect with the artists, and maybe find that perfect artwork for your home or office.

Welcome to bring your family and friends and be inspired.



Reciprocity No5, such a special night. 💫I feel blessed and honoured to be surrounded by all of these extraordinary women...
29/07/2025

Reciprocity No5, such a special night. 💫

I feel blessed and honoured to be surrounded by all of these extraordinary women.

Massive thanks to our speakers - there was laughter, a few tears and so many insights. Being surrounded by these emotive artworks helped create an almost ethereal and beautiful atmosphere that held us all.

What a privilege to be in the room with such wise women, watching them connect and embrace life. The energy was absolutely beautiful and I'm still glowing from it all. ✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their stories, and opened their hearts. These evenings remind me why I love creating spaces for women to connect, be inspired, and remember how magical we are together. 💕

Already feeling inspired for what's next 🌟

Reciprocity No.5 - TODAY It's all about being in the room and 'Showing-up' to receive the benefits.We are cultivating a ...
24/07/2025

Reciprocity No.5 - TODAY

It's all about being in the room and 'Showing-up' to receive the benefits.

We are cultivating a community rooted in gratitude, joy, creativity, and connection. A space where women come together to share knowledge, expand, collaborate, get creative and thrive.

This is your invitation to join a night of stunning artworks, soulful conversations, inspiring guest speakers, and nourishing food — surrounded by open-minded women ready to co-create change.

Guest Speakers:
- Mira Claudia – Mindset Coach & Connection Queen
– Lisa Silva – Master Breathwork Facilitator

Surrounded by stunning artwork, hand-crafted giftware, champagne, soul food, and deep, spirit-filled chats.

Friday July 25th, 2025
5.00 – 7.30pm
Art For Today, Richmond
Free Parking out the front

Tickets up until the event opens: www.artfortoday.com.au/reciprocity

10% of ticket sales go to Imagine Re-Evolution, supporting young people and break the poverty cycle in Melbourne’s North East through creativity, community and sustainability.

Let your woo shine.
Let’s rise together.
This is our movement. This is our time.



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Visual Artist

Gemma Donnellan has been a practicing artist for 15 years, formally trained in Visual Arts at RMIT. Gemma has been a member of Swan Street Studios in excess of 5 years, which has seen her practice expand & develop. She has had 6 solo exhibitions, been a feature artist and a part of many group shows. Gemma also gives talks to primary school children with a focus on art & writing.

Gemma held her first solo exhibition of 18 works called ‘First’ in 2003 at the Level 11 Gallery, Flinders Lane. ‘My Magnolias’ from this exhibition is part of the Peter MacCallum Hospital Collection. Her painting ‘Taller Poppies’ was pre-selected for the prestigious Cromwell’s Art Prize in Sydney, then sold at auction.

In 2003 Gemma undertook ‘Designs in Drawing’ course at RMIT University. She then completed her diploma of Visual Arts at RMIT in 2005, majoring in printmaking & painting.