Sheep Art
Kaniva is the home of Sheep Art. The Sheep Art Trail takes around 1/2 hour as a round trip and links the Fauna and Wetlands Park to the Band Park and the Silo Art. Sheep Art has been created and funded by members of the Kaniva community and each sheep tells a story. There are Sheep Art murals at the Windmill Corner and near the Post Office. Various art trail walks can be downloaded from the Actionbound App and start at the Visitor Information Centre.
Local Art
Local Art can be found at Worry's and Purple Starfish in Commercial St.
Murals
The Club Hotel features an RSL Mural painted by artist Callum Warren, and Nikki & Jay's Pizza feature a rockabilly mural.
Art & Craft Workshops
There are a number of boutique art and craft workshops. Try your hand at chalk art painting at Worry's, Wreath making at Kaniva Puppet Shop, Patchwork classes at Little Desert Quilts and general crafts at LINK Neighbourhood house. Art supplies can be purchased from Kaniva Floor & Decor. Contact details can be found in our directory.
Photography
Kaniva Community Roadhouse hosts the permanent exhibition of the 'Spirit of Kaniva'. Purple Starfish hosts regular changing photographic exhibitions.
Historical
Walk around town and see historical photos and adverts depicting the town in days gone by
Bird & Flora
A variety of plaques painted by local artists in and around the main street depicting bird life and flora of the area
School Paintings
A variety of paintings displayed along the school fence by Kaniva College students along Farmers Street
Notable Local Artists
Percy Leason
Percy, born in Lillimur 1889, grew up in Progress St Kaniva, he went onto become Australia's highest paid cartoonist and his Wiregrass series is based on the town and its people. More info. We presently have a grant application in process, so if you have any of Percy's cartoons or imagery, please get in contact with us.
Bob Marchant
Bob was born in Dimboola, but grew up in Maddern St, Kaniva. And it was his art teacher, Ella Service at Nhill High School that was so impressed with his artistic ability that she paid for him to attend art school in Melbourne. Marchant moved to London in the late 1950s and worked as an art director in advertising. One of his first accounts was Mary Quant – the designer became a good friend.
He also grew close to other luminaries, including David Hockney, David Bailey and Brett Whiteley.
Born in 1938, Bob is still a practicing artist, now in his eighties. Listen to this podcast as Bob reflects on his artistic life and career. His Wimmera Series depicts his boyhood memories of Kaniva, Miram, Dimboola and Mundulla. More info
Marcus Wills
Figurative realist painter Marcus Wills was born in Kaniva in 1972. Marcus has been a finalist six times in the Archibald Prize including winning in 2006 with his portrait of sculptor Paul Juraszek, which was painted in a style inspired by a 16th-century Flemish etching. A half size reproduction can be found in the West Wimmera Shire Council Kaniva Offices at 25 Baker St. His work is held in several regional collections and private collections around Australia. More info
Back to more things to do
Kaniva is the home of Sheep Art. The Sheep Art Trail takes around 1/2 hour as a round trip and links the Fauna and Wetlands Park to the Band Park and the Silo Art. Sheep Art has been created and funded by members of the Kaniva community and each sheep tells a story. There are Sheep Art murals at the Windmill Corner and near the Post Office. Various art trail walks can be downloaded from the Actionbound App and start at the Visitor Information Centre.
Local Art
Local Art can be found at Worry's and Purple Starfish in Commercial St.
Murals
The Club Hotel features an RSL Mural painted by artist Callum Warren, and Nikki & Jay's Pizza feature a rockabilly mural.
Art & Craft Workshops
There are a number of boutique art and craft workshops. Try your hand at chalk art painting at Worry's, Wreath making at Kaniva Puppet Shop, Patchwork classes at Little Desert Quilts and general crafts at LINK Neighbourhood house. Art supplies can be purchased from Kaniva Floor & Decor. Contact details can be found in our directory.
Photography
Kaniva Community Roadhouse hosts the permanent exhibition of the 'Spirit of Kaniva'. Purple Starfish hosts regular changing photographic exhibitions.
Historical
Walk around town and see historical photos and adverts depicting the town in days gone by
Bird & Flora
A variety of plaques painted by local artists in and around the main street depicting bird life and flora of the area
School Paintings
A variety of paintings displayed along the school fence by Kaniva College students along Farmers Street
Notable Local Artists
Percy Leason
Percy, born in Lillimur 1889, grew up in Progress St Kaniva, he went onto become Australia's highest paid cartoonist and his Wiregrass series is based on the town and its people. More info. We presently have a grant application in process, so if you have any of Percy's cartoons or imagery, please get in contact with us.
Bob Marchant
Bob was born in Dimboola, but grew up in Maddern St, Kaniva. And it was his art teacher, Ella Service at Nhill High School that was so impressed with his artistic ability that she paid for him to attend art school in Melbourne. Marchant moved to London in the late 1950s and worked as an art director in advertising. One of his first accounts was Mary Quant – the designer became a good friend.
He also grew close to other luminaries, including David Hockney, David Bailey and Brett Whiteley.
Born in 1938, Bob is still a practicing artist, now in his eighties. Listen to this podcast as Bob reflects on his artistic life and career. His Wimmera Series depicts his boyhood memories of Kaniva, Miram, Dimboola and Mundulla. More info
Marcus Wills
Figurative realist painter Marcus Wills was born in Kaniva in 1972. Marcus has been a finalist six times in the Archibald Prize including winning in 2006 with his portrait of sculptor Paul Juraszek, which was painted in a style inspired by a 16th-century Flemish etching. A half size reproduction can be found in the West Wimmera Shire Council Kaniva Offices at 25 Baker St. His work is held in several regional collections and private collections around Australia. More info
Back to more things to do
