Soula Mantalvanos | Artist, designer & gallerist Melbourne Australia
Soula Mantalvanos | Artist, designer & gallerist
Inspiring change and progress in any industry can be tough, but I think the toughest industry to change is the ‘sick’ system. But that hasn’t stopped me from trying! And now I get a huge reward for the effort and sacrifice. My big idea, My Health Story (MHS), is a finalist for Melbourne Design Week 2026. How the… [...]
My own art collection is largely made up of works purchased through Melbourne galleries, and some acquired on travels when I was a full-time Director of ooi, a very successful design business – my own again. Theo and I bought a lot of art, always through galleries. There are very few cases in which we acquired work otherwise because we fully understood the impact on our industry. Of course, we have bought art from our own gallery now. Understanding that we are all running small businesses, and recognising that a gallery sale supports both the artist and the infrastructure around them, might just be a sustaining element – if you want the gallery structure to exist. Times are changing. We also need to include this idea for open conversation. Did we have too many restaurants pre-COVID? Was the gallery structure always going to fail? Are there too many galleries? Are there too many artists?
That’s exactly how it felt when we celebrated our 10th birthday at Queenscliff Gallery (QG). With the ongoing glum vibes that have poured in since COVID, it felt so great to throw a party and celebrate the collaborative efforts of fellow artists, business owners, friends, family, the community, and our brilliant patrons who helped us cross the milestone. [...]
Queenscliff Gallery Celebrates its 10th Anniversary with the exhibition ’10/10′. Exhibition dates: Nov 13 – Dec 8, 2025 Queenscliff Gallery (and I!) are thrilled to announce the gallery’s 10th anniversary, marked by a spectacular art exhibition showcasing the works of ten distinguished artists who have been integral to the gallery’s journey – since day one! This milestone celebration [...]
Italy is never enough for me. There’s not enough Burrata, cicchetti, grilled squid, cornetti, salata mistas, Prosecco (hello Franciacorta!), tartare, overall exceptional hospitality, and that Olive oil – I still can’t believe they leave the bottle on the table. I don’t get enough of searching for the next Via or Vicolo, the next urban, hillside or valley scene, [...]
That translates as a casual hello from where I write in beautiful Italy. To be more specific, I’m in Cortona in the magnificent Tuscan hilly home of dear friends… having been welcomed back again. Where would artists be without their dear friends and patrons? While Theo and I take an annual break and I gather some new sketches [...]
QG Focus Soula Mantalvanos Passaggi: A Painted Season DATES Exhibition dates: Aug 7 – Sep 8, 2025 Join the QG Mingle list to receive exhibition previews and private opening invitations (or sign up to my list in the form below). Passaggi: A Painted Season traces a personal journey through Central and Northern Italian towns and laneways—places rich with stone, [...]
Exhibitions dates: 19th Jun – 13th Jul Public QG Mingle: 22nd Jun from 2 – 4pm Queenscliff Gallery proudly presents Homage to Impressionism, a group exhibition featuring the posthumous honeymoon etchings of Sir Arthur Streeton. […]
Aaah, the freshness of a new year. Although this might not be published by the end of January, I started drafting it at the beginning of the year. Time flies, especially when Queenscliff Gallery's (QG) doors are open seven days a week. It's tough and not. Being grounded is quite lovely. Doing the same thing ritualistically has a soothing side. That the summer has been fruitful makes up for missing out on leisurely pleasures and the FOMO. My health issue first introduced me to the joys of cancellations. I often had to ground myself and keep life simple to survive. Then, a dear friend, the late Michael Leunig, affirmed the experience with a divine poem, JOMO—the joy of missing out.
I am thrilled to present and announce more official information about Silent Narratives, my upcoming exhibition at Queenscliff Gallery (QG). And I’ve got a special invitation for you, so read on! As the director of QG, my main task is to curate exhibitions and manage social media. I’m in awe of the artists Theo and I are so [...]
