Brisbane Powerhouse will tee off its 2026 season with Swingers – The Art of Mini Golf, an energetic summer opener showing from January 10 to March 1. The exhibition takes an inventive and immersive approach to contemporary art, swapping gallery walls for a fully playable nine-hole course designed by a stellar line-up of visionary female artists.
This imaginative installation brings together works by Miranda July, Kaylene Whiskey, Saeborg, Nabilah Nordin, Delaine Le Bas, Natasha Tontey, Soda Jerk, BKTHERULA and Pat Brassington. The artists, whose practices span film, sculpture, performance and installation, each bring a distinctive creative voice to the mini-golf course, resulting in nine wildly different holes that are equal parts absurd, joyful and thought-provoking.
Inside this ‘neon labyrinth’ of art and performance, visitors can expect everything from latex animal tails repurposed as putters to candy-coloured sculptures, speculative mythologies and even the occasional square ball. It’s an invitation to play, but also to pause, wonder and laugh along the way.
Swingers is the first exhibition programmed by newly appointed Brisbane Powerhouse CEO and artistic director Louise Bezzina, who highlights the project as a signal of the direction she intends to champion – with experiences that are “brave, participatory and deeply creative.”
“It blurs the boundaries between play and art, offering audiences something truly unexpected. What better way to begin a new chapter than by inviting everyone to take a swing?” says Louise.
Developed originally for Melbourne’s RISING festival and curated by Grace Herbert, Swingers also nods to the radical origins of mini golf itself. The pastime was first created by 19th-century Scottish women barred from traditional golf courses, who shaped their own space for play and defiance. That rebellious lineage carries into this exhibition, where visitors tee off inside a neon-tinged landscape of art, performance and playful disruption.
Whether you arrive curious, competitive or simply keen for something new, Swingers – The Art of Mini Golf promises a summer experience that blends creativity, humour and hands-on fun at Brisbane Powerhouse.
Visit the website for details and to book.
This article was written in partnership with our good friends at Brisbane Powerhouse.
