![Alexis Costello grew up in Bowral, and is returning to the town for her latest exhibition La Donna - La Mamma. Picture supplied. Alexis Costello grew up in Bowral, and is returning to the town for her latest exhibition La Donna - La Mamma. Picture supplied.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/123048163/42d4bc03-6813-4c25-976f-f812da3e0757.jpeg/r0_0_2316_2470_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Celebrating femininity, the strength of women and their lived experiences are at the core of Alexis Costello's art - and she returns the Highlands to reiterate this message.
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The artist is bringing bold colours, unapologetic depictions of women and large canvases to her La Donna - La Mamma exhibition, at the Bowral Art Gallery, from May 4 to 9.
She grew up in Bowral and attended the Aurora Steiner School and Chevalier College before completing the HSC in Sydney.
It is the first time Mrs Costello, who lives in Bondi with her husband and young daughters, will exhibit in the region.
"I feel really good," she said about returning to the Highlands for the exhibition.
"Where you grow up is where your heart is."
Once she left school, she went and studied drama, and performed on stages and films in London, and then travelled around Italy, before pursuing the arts upon returning to Sydney.
![Alexis brings bold colours, unapologetic depictions of women and large canvases to the Bowral Art Gallery. Picture supplied. Alexis brings bold colours, unapologetic depictions of women and large canvases to the Bowral Art Gallery. Picture supplied.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/123048163/382abd07-4f28-4df0-92b2-9051024b54c3.jpeg/r0_0_4032_3024_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Artists Frida Kahlo and Hulya Ozdemir, and writer Clarissa Pinkola- Estes have been strong influences.
When she entered motherhood, Mrs Costello wanted to challenge the linear narrative women were sold about the experience being easy, and shine a light on this through her work.
As people walk through the Bowral Art Gallery, they will see more than a dozen large canvases, exploring other themes such as sexuality, identity, grief, friendship, love and the personal psyche.
"Through this exhibition, I hope to connect with the power within women, to remind us that we are not alone on this journey, that I too, and so many women like us have been there, in the darkness, and felt feelings that are so guttural, profound and deep, that they can't be put into words," she said.
She hopes to connect with ladies in the region, and has felt "big love" to exhibit in the town she grew up in.
It is also a way to "wave hi" to her teenage self and show her how far she has come.
There will be an official opening on May 6 from 4pm, with an artist talk, drinks and nibbles.
Learn more about Alexis through @alexiscostelloartist on Instagram, or alexiscostelloartist.com/.
The gallery is open from 10am to 4pm daily.
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