First Impressions | Curated by Friends of Felix Borsari

Next date: Thursday, 25 September 2025 | 09:00 AM to Sunday, 02 November 2025 | 05:00 PM

A graphic drawing of a Pink Orchid with a deep green coloured background and a square border around the image in yellow and orange

Swiss born Felix Borsari migrated to Australia in 1967, at age 22. He worked as a graphic designer, art director and lecturer in typography in Melbourne before being drawn to live in the Eltham region in 1975, making homes in Panton Hill, St Andrews and Smiths Gully.

Felix saw his new surroundings through fresh eyes and captured his ‘First Impressions’ in art works that displayed a sense of immediacy and precise visual acuity. His artworks are inspired by the forms, colours, contrasts and lines of his surrounds, capturing their essence with stark economy of line and a sense of emotion and authenticity.

Felix’s passion for the natural environment led to his discovery of a treasure trove of wildflowers near Panton Hill. His artistic impressions of the wildflowers and the annual guided walks he held at their sites resulted in the establishment of Nillumbik Shire’s ‘Felix Borsari Wildflower Walk’ reserve, where an enormous variety of wildflowers remain permanently protected.

Marking 25 years since his tragic death in 2000 and curated by Friends of Felix Borsari, this exhibition celebrates the natural environment of the Nillumbik Shire, with occasional nods to the built environment.

Image: Pink Orchid from Felix Borsari Sketchbook, Courtesy of Friends of Felix Borsari Incorporated 

Celebration Event
2pm - 4pm, Sunday 5 October 2025
Free
Register

Wildflower walk and talk celebrating legacy of Felix Borsari
When: 2pm - 3.30pm | Sunday 28 September
Where: Bunjil Reserve, Panton Hill. Meet at the Panton Hill Firefighters Memorial Park, 1 Bishops Road Panton Hill
Free | Limited spots
Register

In conversation | Friends of Felix Borsari
With Curator, Jacqueline Felstead, and Tracey Naughton and Fabrizio Calafuri (Friends of Felix Borsari Incorporated)
When: 2pm - 3pm, Saturday 18 October 2025
Where: Eltham Library Community Gallery
Free
Register

Join Tracey Naughton and Fabrizio Calafuri in conversation with Jacqueline Felstead about the life and times of seminal local artist Felix Borsari.

Swiss born Felix Borsari (1945-2000) migrated to Australia in 1967 and moved to the Nillumbik region in 1975. Felix saw his new surroundings through fresh eyes and captured his ‘First Impressions’ in art works that displayed a sense of immediacy and precise visual acuity.

His discovery and artistic impressions of a treasure trove of wildflowers near Panton Hill resulted in Nillumbik Shire’s ‘Felix Borsari Wildflower Walk’ nature reserve, where threatened native orchids remain protected.

Marking 25 years since his tragic death in 2000, ‘First Impressions’ shows Borsari drawing on forms, colours, contrasts and lines of his surrounds, capturing their essence with stark economy of line and a sense of emotion and authenticity.

Access

Accessibility information:

  • ambulant/wheelchair accessible toilet
  • accessible parking
  • ramps available 

About the space:

  • all gender toilets
  • cooling/heating
  • family friendly
  • free space
  • LGBTIQA+ friendly space

When

  • Thursday, 25 September 2025 | 09:00 AM - Sunday, 02 November 2025 | 05:00 PM

Location

Eltham Library Community Gallery, Panther Place, Eltham, 3095, View map

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