This month, Rainbow Studios in Darlinghurst will open the doors to Mirrors, the debut solo exhibition of Australian artist Emma Tindale. Known for her emotive portraits and a practice that blends technical precision with vulnerability, Tindale has steadily built a following within Sydney’s art community. Her collaboration with Rainbow Studios feels almost inevitable – a meeting of creative sensibilities that has been years in the making.
For gallery owner Jade Gillett, the story began when Tindale walked into the showroom and introduced herself. Gillett recalls the moment with clarity: there was an instant connection, both personal and professional. “As soon as I saw her work, I knew her talent was perfectly suited to Rainbow Studios,” she says. An exclusive drop of Tindale’s paintings soon followed, and the response was electric – the collection sold out, confirming what Gillett had sensed from the start.
Tindale’s introduction to the space was equally serendipitous. She first discovered Rainbow Studios through a solo exhibition by the artist duo, Gelbell, who exhibited at the space in 2023. Tindale was immediately drawn to the way the gallery fused art, design, and community, and later, after reading about Gillett’s career in Fashion Journal, made the pilgrimage to Darlinghurst to see the space in person. “It was even more gorgeous than I imagined,” Tindale remembers. “By the time I left, we had plans to work together. It was a pinch-me moment.”
The alignment between artist and gallery is palpable. Rainbow Studios, which functions as a gallery, showroom, event venue, and gathering space, was conceived as a fluid cultural hub rather than a traditional white-walled institution. Situated in Darlinghurst – a suburb Gillett describes as unapologetic, creative, and ever-evolving – the space embodies the city’s cultural heartbeat. “We wanted Rainbow Studios to feel inspiring but familiar, a place where people can connect,” Gillett explains. “The beauty is that our community never quite knows what’s coming next. That sense of anticipation keeps the energy alive.”
Tindale’s work feels perfectly at home in such an environment. Her portraits are not based on real people, yet they exude a powerful familiarity. Confident figures stare back at the viewer with expressions that are at once powerful and soft, inviting narratives that shift depending on who is looking. For Gillett, this ability to transform a space without demanding attention is what sets Tindale’s paintings apart. “It’s rare to see an artist balance such technical precision with that level of emotional sensitivity,” she says.
Mirrors, the body of work created specifically for this exhibition, deepens that exploration of identity and perception. The collection interrogates how we see ourselves and others – through appearance, assumptions, and the stories we construct. Tindale deliberately leaves sections of canvas exposed, a gesture toward the gaps we fill with imagination. “Portraiture feels like looking in a mirror,” she explains. “We recognise expressions and imperfections, and sometimes those flaws resonate more deeply than anything polished.”
The process of creating Mirrors revealed its own challenges. Tindale initially sought to represent a broad range of people but soon realised that her most authentic approach was to paint young adults, the group she interacts with most frequently in life and through art. “Even if not everyone sees their own reflection in the work, they can still recognise and relate to the characters,” she says. Perhaps the greatest lesson came in letting go of control. “The less I tried to plan a painting, the more I liked it. Each brushstroke felt freer, more honest.”
That sense of imperfection is central to what she hopes audiences take away. The visible brushstrokes, uneven lines, and raw edges serve as a reminder that flaws are part of the human experience – accepted in art but often rejected in our own reflections. “If someone leaves feeling lighter or a little more forgiving of themselves, then the paintings have done their job,” Tindale says.
For Gillett, the exhibition also represents a milestone for Rainbow Studios’ mission to champion Australian artists. “It’s at the core of what we do,” she notes. “We’ve always aimed to create a platform that feels both aspirational and accessible, one that celebrates creativity while fostering genuine connection between artist and audience.” With Mirrors, that mission finds striking expression, offering visitors both an intimate experience of Tindale’s vision and a broader reflection on the role of art in shaping community.
'Mirrors' by Emma Tindale will open at Rainbow Studios from Thursday 23 October (opening night) until Thursday 6 November 2025.
