Holding Quiet

Kelly Batsiokis is a Brisbane-based artist whose figurative paintings explore vulnerability, resilience, and the stories people carry beneath the surface. Drawing on her own experiences navigating the impacts of Hashimoto's disease, stress, and periods of anxiety, Kelly uses symbolism, florals, and expressive colour to reflect both struggle and recovery.

Her work seeks to create moments of connection, encouraging viewers to recognise parts of themselves in each piece. Kelly has exhibited across Brisbane and Adelaide and continues to develop a body of work centred on emotional honesty, hope, and the quiet strength found in everyday life.

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I created 'Holding Quiet' as a reflection on the healing found in rest, reflection, and self-compassion. Curled inward, the figure is not withdrawing from the world, but gathering strength within it. Layers of colour and a soft halo of gold suggest growth that often happens unseen. For me, recovery is not always about moving forward quickly. Sometimes it begins with allowing ourselves the space to pause, breathe, and reconnect with who we are.