Mulubinba/Newcastle-based artist Spike Tickner will unveil their debut solo exhibition, Persist, at The Creator Incubator from next week.
The show will take place in the Little Space Gallery, the dedicated gallery within the Incubator, where Spike is also a resident artist.
Persist is a deeply personal series of graphite works that explore the often-invisible terrain of mental health struggles.
Each piece captures the fragile tension between endurance and expression, using drawing not just as a creative act, but as a ritual of survival and emotional grounding.
The exhibition presents a raw, honest reflection of internal battles, with graphite as the chosen medium for its immediacy and intimacy.
The act of mark-making becomes a quiet resistance, a way to remain present through pain and a method of connection that speaks beyond words.
Spike’s emerging voice in the local art scene has already been recognised, having been named a finalist in the 2021 Hunter Emerging Art Prize.
Their work has previously featured in group shows at The Lock-Up, Cessnock Regional Art Gallery, and the Newcastle T-Shirt Show.
The opening night on 31 May will also see the launch of Oscillate, a new exhibition by fellow artist Tom Ireland, adding to what’s set to be a rich evening of creative expression at the Incubator.
Both shows offer an opportunity to engage with the emotional landscapes of two of Newcastle’s most thoughtful visual artists.
Spike Tickner’s compelling debut show Persist will run from 29 May to 8 June, 2025, with an official opening night on Saturday, 31 May 2025. For more info, head to thecreatorincubator.com.
