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This body of work takes its name and spirit from Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd — a song that has echoed through generations as an anthem of freedom, individuality, and staying true to oneself. The song’s lyrics and emotional power have long resonated with Stephanie, and this exhibition is both a personal response and a visual translation of that feeling — of not being tied down, of refusing to conform, of embracing the wild, authentic parts of who we are.
In Free Bird, there’s a soaring sense of release — a breaking away from expectation and the quiet strength it takes to live unapologetically. That is the heartbeat of this collection.
Stephanie tells us her paintings emerge from that same energy: a balance between control and surrender, structure and chaos, flight and grounding. Each piece begins with fluid underlayers of oil glazes and drips — the stage where she can release control completely. This first layer is free, untamed, and instinctive. From there, she will build layers that bring in intention and restraint, allowing the work to find its own voice between freedom and form.
Stephanie shares with us why she is inspired by the song Free Bird. “It reminds me that authenticity is not always easy — it can be lonely, defiant, even misunderstood — but it is essential. To be a “free bird” is to choose honesty over approval, intuition over expectation. They speak to moments of letting go, of trusting the process, and of standing in one’s own skin without apology. In this exhibition, I invite viewers to feel that tension between release and resistance, to sense the motion of freedom within stillness, and to reflect on their own boundaries — the ones we inherit, the ones we break, and the ones we transcend.”
The works are not just about freedom as escape, but freedom as authenticity — the ability to be who you truly are, without compromise. The marks, glazes, and layered forms are metaphors for the choices we make when we decide to live truthfully.
Sponsored by Gate Pa New World
This exhibition launch preview is Friday 16th of January 2026 - 5.30pm at The Incubator Creative Hub, The Tauranga Historic Village, 17th Ave, Tauranga. Licensed Bar onsite, and everyone is welcome.
On display at The Incubator Gallery from the 17th of January to the 7th of February.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Incubator Creative Hub, The Jam Factory, Tauranga South, Tauranga 3112, New Zealand, Tauranga
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
