Art Gallery of Ballarat Backspace Gallery: Stephanie Cartledge Conservation status

Stephanie Cartledge, an artist and muralist, derives inspiration for her stylised works from the distinct beauty of Australia's native flora and fauna, showing at the Art Gallery of Ballarat's Backspace Gallery from 17 May. After collaborating with several large organisations, including Art Aid, BirdLife Australia and Sanrio, Cartledge's latest artworks will be presented in her first solo exhibition in her hometown of Ballarat. 'Conservation status' raises awareness around how humans have impacted the survival of several different native Victorian animals. As classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), each species presented in Cartledge's exhibition is under imminent threat, and by depicting these magnificent creatures through an artistic perspective, viewers are encouraged to become advocates for environmental preservation and contemplate the fragile state of the natural world.