Master of Mental Health Art Therapy Exhibition 2026
flow~essence
Welcome to the University of Queensland’s Master of Mental Health Graduation Exhibition 2026. This year’s exhibition features twelve Art Therapy students, celebrating the completion of their independent research projects and chronicling their journey through the research process. The Master of Mental Health is an intensive program requiring deep personal and professional commitment and perseverance. All students featured in this year’s exhibition have dedicated years of effort – completing this research project brings them one step closer to graduating as highly skilled mental health clinicians.
Our theme this year – flow~essence – was chosen through a collaborative process between the Art Therapy and Psychotherapy streams. The use of the word “flow” holds particular significance, reflecting the movement through the research journey itself, while also capturing the metaphor of two distinct streams converging and flowing as one through the Master of Mental Health program.
The 2026 Art Therapy cohort are a passionate and creative group. Each student has come to the program with diverse background experiences and personal interests, many of which are reflected in the work on display in this exhibition. This year, many students chose to undertake self-reflexive research, sitting in the dual role of researcher and participant – a process that invites deep personal growth and self-discovery. Some students undertook rigorous literature reviews to synthesize existing research, establish current knowledge, and highlight future directions for art therapy practice. Other students worked directly with small participant groups to explore the real-world impact of art therapy across varied contexts. We have been struck by the diversity and also the significance of these projects, and we commend every student for their dedication throughout this journey.
As always, we recognize that moving through the research process requires a strong supporting foundation. We extend our gratitude to the supervisors, teaching staff, friends, and family who have supported this inspiring cohort throughout their studies in the Master of Mental Health program.
Dani Walsh
Louise Leotta
Art Therapy Lead Lecturer