SMH: Darlinghurst convenience store owner Peter Jia finds new opportunities as an artist, with the help of NAS alumnus Brodie Cullen

SMH: Darlinghurst convenience store owner Peter Jia finds new opportunities as an artist, with the help of NAS alumnus Brodie Cullen

Article by Lauren Ironmonger

Peter Jia, 62, owned the EzyMart convenience store in Darlinghurst for three years and came to art late in life. He started painting during the pandemic, initially to help his son with school art projects.

NAS Alumnus Brodie Cullen struck up a rapport with Jia and helped organise a series of art shows at the convenience store. Three shows were held within the walls of the EzyMart between November 2020 and April 2021. Jia’s paintings sat alongside those by students and teachers from the school, bumping up against chip packets and nestled among lolly bags.

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Got a young artist at home?

Art Club Term 3 is now open for enrolment — and we’ve got an exciting painting program lined up. This term, kids will explore styles like Expressive Acrylics and Contemporary Watercolour, all while building their confidence and creativity.

Monday afternoons, led by artist and educator Grant Bellamy. 

Visit the link in bio to learn more and enrol.
Thank you to everyone who attended the opening night and weekend celebrations for The Neighbour at the Gate. 

The Neighbour at the Gate is now open until Saturday 18 October 2025
11am – 5pm Monday to Saturday
NAS Gallery
Free admission, all welcome

Plan your visit at the link in bio.
Led by art educators and inspired by James Nguyen’s new installation work 'Homeopathies_where trees grow' (2025), join us for a free drop-in artmaking workshop to make your own incense holder out of clay which will become part of the evolving artwork in the NAS Gallery, commissioned for The Neighbour at the Gate. 

Next Saturday, 12 July, between 11am – 3pm.

Visit our website to view the full program (link in bio).

The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.
Next Saturday, join us for a fun-filled day of family friendly, free creative activities. There will be sound baths, drop-in artmaking, children's activities, an artists and curators panel talk, followed by dj sets and food trucks. Stick around for after-hours access to the gallery and the Shared Skies Music Concert with BARKAA, Rainbow Chan and DJ Rocky Stallone (ticketed, 18+). 

Visit our website to view the full program (link in bio).

The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.
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