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‘Overcoming Adversity’ by Geoff Dossetor is a community exhibition exploring artistic expression when confronted by a life-altering injury.

After an accident in 2001 that left him quadriplegic, Dossetor began painting using brushes held in his mouth. Painting has since been an important part of Dossetor’s rehabilitation, as he seeks inspiration in the places, creatures and themes he values as he battles adversity. Dossetor is particularly drawn to celebrating his connection to Melbourne and the community through landscapes. In turn, Dossetor hopes his works inspire and uplift those with disabilities to focus on their strengths.

‘Overcoming Adversity’ charts Dossetor’s artistic journey, attesting to resilience, creativity and the human spirit.
 

Image credit: Geoff Dossetor, ‘Kombis liberate Camberwell’, 2010, oil on canvas, 20 x 47 cm, image courtesy of the artist.

A painted street scene featuring several vintage Volkswagen vans driving through an intersection. A red-and-white van is in the foreground, with yellow, orange, and blue vans further down the road. The street is lined with older buildings, including a white corner building with a green sign, and a church-like structure on the left. The sky is bright blue.
Geoff Dossetor, ‘Kombis liberate Camberwell’, 2010, oil on canvas, 20 x 47 cm, image courtesy of the artist.
Painting of a red steam train travelling along an elevated wooden trestle bridge, supported by tall vertical beams. White smoke billows from the locomotive toward dense green forest. Tall trees fill the background, while leafy foliage appears in the lower foreground.
Geoff Dossetor, ‘Puffing Billy’, 2017, water-soluble oil on canvas, 23 x 30.5 cm, image courtesy of the artist.
Painting of a small bird with an orange chest, pale underside, and grey-brown wings stands on a textured rock. Thin legs and a pointed beak are visible. The background is blurred green tones, suggesting vegetation behind the bird.
Geoff Dossetor, ‘Robin on alert’, 2024, water-soluble oil on canvas, 20 x 15 cm, image courtesy of the artist.
Painting of a wide lake, reflecting surrounding mountains. Steep mountains rise on both sides, some with patches of snow. A grassy shoreline appears in the foreground, while mist softens the distant peaks under a partly cloudy sky.
Geoff Dossetor, ‘Milford Sound 2’, 2026, water-soluble oil on canvas, 25.5 x 51 cm, image courtesy of the artist.
Painting of a small blue house with a steep rust-coloured roof, standing among tall, windblown grasses. A narrow sandy path leads to the front door. A low fence runs beside the building, and the ocean stretches behind under a sky with scattered clouds.
Geoff Dossetor, ‘Beach escape’, 2025, water-soluble oil on canvas, 20 x 25.5 cm, image courtesy of the artist.
Painting of an underwater scene showing a turtle swimming horizontally across deep blue water. The turtle’s shell and flippers are visible, with lighter markings along the edges. The seabed below appears covered with uneven, textured forms suggesting rocks or coral.
Geoff Dossetor, ‘Turtle’, 2024, water-soluble oil on canvas, 20 x 25.5 cm, image courtesy of the artist.