ArtUp opens ‘Bloom’ exhibition at Haiku Gladstone to bring new creative experience to Fishermans Bend
15 artists will be featured in the flora-themed collection, as part of Haiku Gladstone Creative in Residence initiative
Melbourne – 28 July 2026 – Melbourne art group ArtUp is launching its debut exhibition, Bloom, in the newly transformed ground-floor space at Haiku Gladstone. This new creative space is the result of a partnership between FBIDEAs and Greystar through its Creative in Residence, designed to bring new experiences to Haiku residents and the local South Melbourne community.
Founded by Melbourne artists Jade Armstrong and Kerrin Samuel, ArtUp was created to bridge the gap between emerging local talent and everyday buyers. As emerging artists themselves, Jade and Kerrin understand the challenges of building a creative career and are passionate about creating opportunities for artists to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and grow sustainably. Through accessible gallery spaces and structured commercial support, ArtUp empowers artists to build long-term careers while demystifying the art-buying experience for new collectors.
Intentionally designed as a bright burst of colour amidst Melbourne’s winter, the Bloom exhibition features works from 14 emerging and locally-based artists, alongside celebrated Melbourne artist, Anna Blatman. The Bloom exhibition will showcase a diverse flora-inspired collection spanning original paintings, ceramics, sculptures, and photography.
Jade Armstrong and Kerrin Samuel, Co-Founders of ArtUp, said: "Melbourne’s grassroots art scene is so full of energy right now, and Bloom is about putting bold, experimental work front and centre. We have 15 emerging and established local artists, working across an incredible range of media and ideas — from Nahbananas’ organic spherical sculptures, to our youngest artist, 12-year-old Thea Warren, who has incorporated Morse code into crochet to explore the different ways we communicate.
"As emerging artists ourselves, we’re proud to be exhibiting our own work in the Bloom exhibition, including naturally iridescent and UV-interactive sculptures and drawings, alongside scented ceramics and paintings that reveal hidden messages under UV light. We're also exhibiting alongside the much-loved established artist Anna Blatman and there are many more surprising works to discover throughout Bloom. We’re grateful to Greystar and FBIDEAs for giving us a space to celebrate these artists and help propel their careers.”
In exchange for free-residence on the ground floor retail space of Haiku Gladstone, Greystar’s Creative in Residence program is designed to bring new experiences to its residents, while supporting the local community in which its properties are situated. Following its success, Greystar is exploring how it can replicate the initiative in other Haiku communities.
Jade MacAuslan, Sales and Marketing Director, Greystar, said: “Our Haiku properties are purposely designed to reflect and have a positive impact on the places where they are built. The goal of the Creative In Residence initiative is to bring fresh and engaging experiences to our residents, while helping them connect with other local residents, businesses and the wider community. We’re proud to work with FBIDEAs to provide a rotating creative space for local organisations like ArtUp, helping foster local talent and contribute to Fishermans Bend’s evolution as a vibrant creative precinct.”
The new exhibition at Haiku Gladstone is located within Fishermans Bend, Australia’s largest urban renewal precinct. As the precinct continues to grow, grassroot initiatives like Bloom play a key role in building a vibrant, connected community from the ground up.
On the Bloom exhibition, Alex Makin, Mayor of the City of Port Phillip, said: “Fishermans Bend is Australia’s largest urban renewal precinct and local creative initiatives like Bloom are vital to the success in urban revitalisation and building community. The collaboration between Greystar, FBIDEAs, and ArtUp is a great example of how private development and the creative industries can work together to deliver unique, accessible cultural experiences for our rapidly growing community. Having vibrant local meeting places where emerging artists can share their work and build relationships with local residents reinforces the importance of Port Phillip as the nexus for the arts and creative industries. ArtUp reaffirms that the City of Port Phillip is such a special place to live, work, and create."
The Bloom exhibition is open to the public, free of charge, and will run until September 2026. ArtUp will host pop-up retail, artist talks, creative workshops, and community events exploring growth, connection, and contemporary design. The exhibition is located at Haiku Gladstone, 15–85 Gladstone Street, South Melbourne. For more information, visit: www.artup.global