Vera Keatley

Local Contemporary Art Prize 2026 – Finalist

Image courtesy of the artist.

Vera Keatley | Succulents and cacti | 2025 | acrylic on canvas | 94 x 124cm

When I go to galleries and museums, I often walk straight past the highly realistic paintings (sorry!). I can appreciate the skill, but what I’m really drawn to is art that feels entertaining, playful, and a little bit unexpected. Most of all, I hope this painting makes you feel happy when you look at it.

This work is inspired by my succulents and cacti garden which had been a project in my mind for many many years (first influenced by a friend’s succulents pots in Sydney and by gardens I admired while travelling in California). I love succulents and cacti for their low maintenance (I’m a self-confessed lazy gardener), but also for their incredible range of tones and shapes.

I’ve always felt happiest and the most present when creating. I’ve faced plenty of blocks and procrastination along the way, but with this painting something feels like it’s freeing itself. I hope this is the beginning of many more creations.