A much-loved annual fixture of Melbourne’s visual arts calendar featuring 1,000 new works by artists of all stripes, providing a platform for experimentation, exploration and discovery, the Linden Postcard Show returns this September for its 35th iteration.
For some artists, the Postcard Show is the first time they have exhibited their work, while others enter year after year. While there’s prize money to be won, most artists are just as excited by the opportunity for their artworks to grace the walls of Linden New Art in St Kilda, in the company of other artists, established and emerging.
The winner of last year’s The Hive Milton House People’s Choice Award, Monica Gallivan explains what the Linden Postcard Show means to artists.
“The Linden Postcard show has been an annual event on my calendar since I first enrolled in art school. Of all the open entry exhibitions in Melbourne, it is the most iconic; accessible, diverse, and deeply loved by the community,” said Gallivan .
“Receiving the award was very encouraging as an artist exhibiting my work for the first time. It was a great source of motivation to keep painting and exhibit my artworks more,” said Alannah Rosenbrock, winner of last year’s Rotary Port Phillip Portrait Award.
“The Postcard Show is Linden’s most visited exhibition each year. It is a great opportunity for artists from all backgrounds to showcase their work to a diverse and influential audience,” said Hamish Sawyer, Curator at Linden New Art.
“Importantly, it’s also a source of income for artists through artworks sales, and for Linden, with revenue from entry fees and commission supporting Linden’s exhibition program.”
This year’s Linden Postcard Show is proudly supported by local businesses and community members from St Kilda, presenting more than 14 cash prizes and vouchers.
Among the highlights are the People’s Choice Award and the First Nations Award, underscoring Linden and the local community’s commitment to recognising and celebrating diverse voices within the visual arts.
The 35th Linden Postcard Show opens on Saturday 6 September and continues to Sunday 2 November 2025. Entries close Sunday 27 July 2025. For more information and entry guidelines, visit: www.lindenarts.org for details.
Image: Installation of Linden Postcard Show 2023-24 – photo by Simon Strong