An exhibition by Vegas Fitzmaurice
Berninneit Art Gallery | 1 November - 6 December 2025
Official Opening: Saturday 1 November, 2pm-4pm
Berninneit Art Gallery is proud to present Millowl - A Mother's Element, a deeply personal and powerful new exhibition by artist Vegas Fitzmaurice, showing from 1 November to 6 December 2025.
This moving body of work stands as both a tribute and a celebration - created in honour of Fitzmaurice's late mother and of Millowl (Phillip Island) itself. The exhibition recognises the enduring force and beauty of Mother Nature, and the way she sustains, protects and transforms us.
Each artwork draws inspiration from the four sacred elements - Fire, Water, Air and Earth - as experienced across the island's landscapes and seascapes. Through these elemental themes, Fitzmaurice captures the rhythm of life on Country:
- Fire as renewal and memory
- Water as healing and flow
- Air as breath and spirit
- Earth as grounding and connection
Together, these works invite reflection on the cycles of nature and life, and on the unbreakable ties between people, place and ancestry. They stand as both a remembrance of a beloved mother and a universal story of nurture, resilience, and balance.
A Worldwide Launch to Protect Aboriginal Art
Millowl - A Mother's Element also marks the inaugural worldwide launch of a groundbreaking partnership with Authentic Indigenous, an Aboriginal-run technology company dedicated to protecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
This innovative platform allows artists to add and manage secure digital certificates of authentication to their artworks - ensuring each piece's provenance, authenticity, and rightful ownership remain traceable throughout its lifetime. This system is vital in the protection of Indigenous art against forgery and cultural appropriation, while also ensuring artists receive their resale royalties as their work continues its journey.
Each artwork in the exhibition will feature a smart sticker embedded with digital authentication technology. Visitors will be able to scan the artwork with their phone to access rich multimedia stories including artist insights, cultural context, and video reflections which will remain permanently linked to the piece.
Quote attributable to Greg Box, CEO, Bass Coast Shire Council
"We are renowned for our innovative approaches here and for our work with First Nations First philosophy. We are thrilled to be hosting artwork that is the first part of this groundbreaking change for artists and hope that other galleries will also take this work on with their artists".
Quote attributable to Cr Rochelle Halstead, Mayor, Bass Coast Shire Council
"Berninneit Art Gallery is honoured to host the first-ever exhibition to showcase this important technology in action, highlighting both cultural preservation and innovation in contemporary Indigenous art practice".
Fitzmaurice, who has Aboriginal heritage (Yarra Yarra, Wurundjeri), continues his commitment to storytelling and cultural integrity through his creative practice VGF Creative (www.vgfcreative.com.au).
Exhibition details:
Millowl - A Mother's Element
Artist: Vegas Fitzmaurice
Venue: Berninneit Art Gallery, Cowes
Dates: 1 November - 6 December 2025
Opening event: Saturday 1 November, 2pm-4pm
