Artworks are first available for purchase by sponsors and dignitaries before being available in person at the Exhibition in Brisbane. Unsold artworks can also be purchased online following the event.
"'Girl Power' represents the inherent strength and resilience needed to adapt to society and break down barriers of misunderstanding surrounding people living with mental illness."
Cate Bond is a self-taught Brisbane artist with a background in physiotherapy, fitness, art therapy and music.
Art has always been an important self-expression tool throughout Cate's life. Following her sister's suicide after a seven-year struggle with bipolar disorder, Cate turned to painting to cope with her profound grief. Later, after a severe spinal cord injury, painting helped her cope with unrelenting, chronic pain.
Cate was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2004. Since this time, she has used art not only for self-expression, but also to help her on her recovery journey.