A local artist’s passion about infrastructure and drawing combined to take out this year’s genU artX Regional top award. 

Aaron Deans was announced as the 2025 Trophy winner on Thursday 3 April, in front of about 150 people at the artX exhibition opening at the Rachinger Gallery at Eastern Hub Community Centre. 

His piece, titled Power House, was chosen by judges amidst a record number of submissions, bringing together Aaron’s two passions, facility infrastructure and drawing. Judges described the winning piece as “an incredibly complex composition” with intricate details and vibrant colours.

“He takes a very ordinary subject and turns it into quite an exceptional work,” the judges commented.

When his name was called as the artX Regional 2025 winner, an elated Aaron was overwhelmed with emotions and his arms were shaking from the excitement.

Choosing Power House as a submission was easy for Aaron, who’s been fascinated with the subject matter throughout his life, and enthralled with unique elements of the Geelong environment, thanks to his mother.   

“Ever since I was little, I would practice drawing buildings and power stations and control panels,” Aaron said. 

“It’s my passion. I’ve always loved that kind of media. 

“Mum would take me to the factories like the Geelong Refinery and on tours of ships and that’s all the inspiration from there you see.”

Aaron’s major prize included the first-prize trophy and $250 gift voucher and genU purchasing the artwork to display in the artX Hall of Fame at genU head office in Belmont.  

Runner-up was Christian Den Besten for Queenscliff QG, Ella Dalli was awarded Highly Commended for Melting Happiness, while Mason Laurence was chosen as the inaugural winner of the new category, High Achievement Award. 

genU CEO Clare Amies said genU was proud to hold the annual showcase event to celebrate the outstanding artistic talent within our region.

“This is the largest art exhibition in the Geelong region for people with disability, and continues to highlight diversity and inclusiveness,” she said. 

“We know how important art and creativity is for people who take the time to submit to the exhibition.” 

Ms Amies said the 2025 exhibition attracted a record 159 submissions, which included a dynamic mix of mediums, from paintings to drawings, photographs to sculptures.

“Congratulations to our winners – I know the judges had a very difficult time to narrow it down to three winning works,” she said. 

Judging fell to Jamie Daddo, a renowned 30-year painter and exhibitor, Geelong Gallery Senior Curator Lisa Sullivan, and Boom Gallery co-founder and co-director Ren Inei were impressed with the outstanding standard of artX Regional 2025 entries. 

Ms Sullivan described the quality of submissions as “extraordinary,” and the variety of subjects and approaches taken demonstrated the collective creativity of the artists. 

“Having had the privilege of judging this show over a number of years, it’s really great to see the number of works expanding, the quality of the artists’ work evolving and I’m particularly excited about the three-dimensional works that are coming into the exhibition,” she said. 

Ms Amies encouraged everyone interested in supporting people with disability to attend the exhibition, which is open until Thursday 24 April. With much of the artwork on sale, it presents an opportunity to adorn your walls with a unique piece.

“Having an artX original will enrich any space, in your office or home, and create an interesting talking point, plus you’ll be supporting artists with disability, financially and creatively,” Ms Amies said. 

Art studios represented at artX Regional 2025 included:

• Eastern Hub Studio
• James Street Gallery
• ArtGusto
• Art for All Abilities, Drysdale
• Studio 44 Hamilton
• Cox Road Art Program, Corio.

ArtX Regional 2025 – winners

First Prize trophy: Aaron Deans, Power House

Runner-up trophy: Christian Den Besten, Queenscliff QG

Highly Commended: Ella Dalli, Melting Happiness

High Achievement Award: Mason Laurence, Beauty

Prestige Jayco Award: Lilly Lougheed, Andy. Bella. Broderick

Provincial Media Award: Christine Ericksson, From the Garden

Exhibition opening hours

art Regional 2025 will be open to the public for viewing and sales.

Exhibition run: Friday 4 April until Thursday 24 April 2025

Location: Rachinger Gallery, Eastern Hub Community Centre, 285A McKillop Street, East Geelong 

Open: Monday to Saturday 9am – 4pm 

Judges comments

Powerhouse - Winner Aaron Deans

“It's an incredibly complex composition and so skilfully done - the complexity of it is extraordinary. The intricate details Aaron has woven into the work really make it quite exceptional, and also the way he handles the colour – the vibrancy of those sort of neons or fluoro colours that he's incorporated into what is in essence, quite a dull scene or dull location of a powerhouse. He takes a very ordinary subject and turns it into quite an exceptional work. But he's incorporated some of his own kind of elements and imaginary elements. It’s quite intuitive as well, it’s not carefully planned. His approach [to starting the work] is quite brave and he’s got that confidence – he’s in his lane. 

“You can tell he loves the subject matter and is passionate about it, down to the little switches and the cables. It's a powerhouse of all work.”

Queenscliff QG - Runner-up Christian Den Besten

“Christian showed a real connection to place and architecture. There was a sense of care and love towards the subject matter and he has that in all his work. The observational skills are extraordinary, but also just his handling of his material. There are segments of it that are just luminous, in terms of the way that he's applied the pencil – there’s a real life to it. He's got an incredible ability to simplify form. Take the trees on the left-hand side of the building, the way he just distils them down into the simplest of marks, but they convey something quite tangible in a lot of respects. It's terrific.” 

Melting Happiness - Highly Commended Ella Dalli

“The tears and the emotion. The artist captures how they feel about the subject matter. The small intimate scale of it, it's almost life size in a way. The scale the artist was working at emphasises or almost exaggerates that emotion because it's almost like a mirror. It's quite an anonymous kind of figure as well, so in a way we can all see a little bit of ourselves in it. We’re not sure if it’s a self-portrait or a portrait of someone else? Abyss (written in the corner) which is quite bleak. Like falling into the crevice. The scale of it, that it is quite small, sends a powerful message.” 

Mason Laurence (High Achievement Award)

Mason had a beautifully presented portfolio that showed the clear progression in his work and the influences [like Vincent van Gogh and Henri Matisse] that have inspired him. This shows a really clear progression in the practice. 

About artX Regional 

artX Regional is an art exhibition coordinated by genU, featuring works of art from artists who identify as living with disability or with a history of mental illness. This exhibition is open to artists over 16 years of age who live in regional Victoria. Exhibition entries include paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures. artX Regional provides artists an opportunity to have their work seen by a wider audience, be critiqued by experienced arts practitioners, and receive financial benefit if their artwork is sold.