VAS 9x5 Exhibition 2025
2 Jul 2025 – 3 Aug 2025
Opening 2pm, Sunday July 13
Location: Cato Gallery & Mackley Members' Room
A homage to the original 1889 9x5 Impressionism Exhibitions, of small works painted on cigar box lids.
The original, iconic exhibition was organised by VAS founding artists Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts and Charles Condor, who painter their en plein air studies on cigar boxes 9 by 5 inches in size.
Now one of the most popular events in the Victorian Artists Society calendar, this exhibition offers an opportunity for artists to reinterpret the iconic 9x5 format. Ranging from traditional to quirky, these works limited only by size and imagination create a spectacular display.
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.
Image above: Gwendoline Krumins VAS—The Artist, Bob Senior Award Winner 2024
Acknowledgment of traditional owners.
We would like to pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land on which our building stands, their leaders, past, present and emerging.