18 July 2025
An exhibition featuring 61 works from 2024 visual arts graduates is currently on display at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
The West Australian Pulse is back for a 33rd year and is showcasing the artwork of recently graduated Year 12 students from 37 WA schools.
Laura Hughes' work was featured in The West Australian Pulse exhibit.
The exhibition dives deep into the experiences faced by the Year 12 artists, exploring themes of self-identify, neurodiversity, social pressures and environmental concern among others.
Laura Hughes, a former student at Leeming Senior High School, is one of the artists featured in this year’s exhibit.
Their piece, titled ‘Drained’, is a 3D self-portrait made using laser-cut wood and coloured pencil.
“This piece symbolises the cumulative effect of sensory overload, social pressures, and academic demands,” Laura said.
“As someone with autism, I wanted to express what it feels like to constantly push myself to keep going, despite how draining it was.”
As well as being featured in the exhibit, Laura’s work was used to promote the showcase, printed on posters, buses and a billboard.
Laura with their work.
“I’ve had my work in quite a few exhibitions, but to have it in the state gallery is, like, pretty incredible,” they told The West Australian newspaper.
“It’s kind of crazy; I can’t believe my artwork is just driving around on a bus somewhere right now.”
‘Drained’ among the other pieces in the showcase will be on display in the State Gallery of Western Australia until 31 August 2025.
For more information visit The West Australian Pulse 2025 website.