OBSERVER: Confined 17
The Torch announces an immersive public program for Confined 17 – its landmark annual exhibition featuring 497 artworks from 424 First Peoples artists with lived experience of incarceration in Victori.
The exhibition is until June 14 at Glen Eira City Council Gallery.
Through a series of live events, The Torch invites the public to engage directly with the artists’ stories, learn traditional skills, enjoy exhibition tours, Sunday music sessions and more, moving the conversation beyond the gallery walls and fostering a deeper community connection.
Confined 17 is an exhibition spanning painting, weaving, ceramics and carved emu eggs, alongside unexpected works including a large handmade woollen rug, woven eel traps and a sculpture made from kangaroo bones.
Together, these works explore themes of kinship, healing, cultural identity and personal journeys, reflecting the strength, resilience and creativity of artists connected to The Torch’s Indigenous Arts in Prisons and Community program.
This exhibition serves as a profound testament to the resilience and cultural identity of artists navigating the justice system.
Exhibition dates: Until June 14
Times: Mon to Fri 10am–5pm; Sat and Sun, 1–5pm
Venue: Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Cnr. Glen Eira and Hawthorn Rds., Caulfield
Admission: Free
Further Details: thetorch.org.au/
Cheryl Threadgold
Pictured: Installation view, Confined 17 2026, presented by The Torch at Glen Eira City Council, Caulfield.
Photo: James Henry

