A group of young artists from the Sutherland Shire will have their art work displayed in galleries across NSW as part of the Operation Art exhibition.
The 2017 Operation Art exhibition is comprised of 50 art works and will tour to five regional galleries across NSW, including the Art Gallery of NSW.
Only the top 50 works were chosen out of 796 entries.
The exhibition officially opened on September 9 at the Armory Gallery at Sydney Olympic Park where it will remain until October 29.
The local students who have their art on show include Keira Moukatas (Year 2, Kareela Public School), Sophie Gair (Year 6, Cronulla Public School), Shardae Spencer (Year 9, Cronulla High School), and Isla Evans (Year 10, Engadine High School).
Sophie said she enjoyed studying artist Frida Kahlo in class and decided to paint a portrait of her, titled Fantastic Frida.
“I studied Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in art and loved learning about her interesting and inspiring life.
“Painting her self portrait showed the sadness in her eyes and yet she lived her very brief life to the full.
“I like her quote ‘I paint self portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best’."
Now in its 23rd year, Operation Art is a competition open to students from across NSW.
Entrants from kindergarten to Year 10 can enter and express themselves – with the main purpose of motivating and soothing patients in hospital.
All the art work will be donated to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead after the exhibition.