VAS 9x5 Exhibition 2025

2 Jul 2025 – 3 Aug 2025

Location: Cato Gallery & Mackley Members' Room

A homage to the original 1889 9x5 Impressionism Exhibitions, of small works painted on cigar box lids.

VAS 9x5 Exhibition 2025

Location: Cato Gallery & Mackley Members' Room

2 Jul 2025 – 3 Aug 2025

A homage to the original 1889 9x5 Impressionism Exhibitions, of small works painted on cigar box lids.

The original iconic impressionism exhibition in 1889 was organised and featured paintings by VAS artists Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts and Charles Conder, who painted on cigar box lids 9 by 5 inches in size.

Reintroduced to VAS in 2023, this historically important exhibition is one of the most popular events of the VAS calendar, attracting hundreds of entries from artists around Victoria and beyond. Ranging from traditional to quirky, this collection limited only by size and imagination creates a spectacular display.

Image above: Gwendoline Krumins VAS—The Artist, Bob Senior Award Winner 2024

2025 Entry & Boards Available Now

VAS is very pleased to announce an additional element to this year’s 9 x 5 exhibition. A display of painted wooden cigar boxes. Painted by you that is!

Our early impressionists painted on, amongst other things, cigar box lids measuring roughly 9 x 5. These were supplied by a fellow artist, Louis Abrahams who owned a tobacconist store in Melbourne. These works became the catalyst for the original 9 x 5 exhibition in 1889.

This year we will have 50 cigar boxes in the display. The cost of registering for the display is $100 which includes the cigar box. The terms and conditions with respect to the cigar boxes will be the same as 9 x 5 terms and conditions.

2025 Cigar Boxes Avaliable Now

Past 9x5 Exhibitions