In the heart of Murray Bridge, the Ability Café has been transformed into something extraordinary: a portal to other worlds. Local artist Dylan Grgic is preparing to launch his very first art exhibition, Orbits and Echoes, a vibrant and imaginative journey through space, planets – a collaboration between Alchemy Services and Genuine Support Services Australia of Murray Bridge and of stories told amongst the stars.
Dylan’s work captures the imaginations of many, an interesting and motivated artist, his perspective is as unique as the cosmos he paints. His pieces shimmer with colour, texture, and feeling, but it’s the stories behind them that make them unforgettable.
We sat down with Dylan at Ability Café, prior to the installation and when asked what inspired him to begin painting space scenes, his eyes lit up!
Dylan celebrates recycling in his works and hopes the future will bring better management of our waste.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the quiet mystery of space,” Dylan said. “As a kid, I used to lie on my back and imagine stories behind each star. Painting planets feels like I’m creating little worlds of my own — a way to dream out loud.”
And dream he does. The collection includes colourful swirling gas giants, glimmering asteroid belts, and silent planets that seem to hum with hidden tales. Among them, one piece stands out for him: the flooded planet.
(L) The magical Milky Way. (Image supplied by GSSA Fresh Perspective Photography)
(R) Dylan making time to think about some of nature’s creations.
“It’s hard to pick a favourite, there are so many,” Dylan admitted with a smile. “But I do enjoy discussing the flooded planet, where you can almost see Hawaii underwater on the planet. A lot of the pieces are surrounded by space junk — old satellites, bolts and lost toys. It’s fun, but a little sad too. I like how it shows a mix of wonder and mess we leave behind, even in space.”
Dylan expresses his concerns about space junk and other human rubbish, in his art.
That thoughtful balance of fantasy and sadness runs through all of Dylan’s work. Each piece invites the viewer to explore not just what’s ‘out there,’ but what lies within us — our memories, our impact, and our curiosity.
Dylan enjoys thinking outside the box and uses recyclable objects in his art, when he can.
The exhibition is not only a celebration of Dylan’s talent but also a result of heartfelt community collaboration. Organised through a partnership between Genuine Support Services Australia and Alchemy Services, the show is hosted at the Ability Café — an inclusive community venue that supports people of all abilities in gaining work experience and growing their confidence in a welcoming, skill-building environment.
“The Ability Café runs these exhibitions regularly,” one staff member explained, “because we believe that everyone should have a platform to share their voice. Dylan’s voice happens to be one of stardust and imagination.”
As the final pieces are adjusted and the gallery lighting glows just right, Dylan remains calm and curious about how people will respond to his work.
“I hope they’ll take up a paintbrush and start painting and exploring,” he said. “In some ways, I hope they feel small in a good way. Like when you look up at the stars — remember there’s so much out there. And maybe they’ll think a little bit about what we carry with us, and what we leave behind.”
As the exhibition opens, visitors will be stepping into more than just an art show. They’ll be stepping into Dylan’s mind — a place where science fiction meets self-expression, and where a young artist’s dreams take shape in stars, stories, and splashes of paint.
Orbits and Echoes opens at noon on Friday July 4, 2025, at the Ability Café, 4/5 Seventh Street, Murray Bridge. Don’t miss the chance to experience Dylan Grgic’s incredible universe — where every orbit tells a story, and every echo calls us to wonder.
*If this interests you, Dylan recommends you have a quick look, in real-time, at https://platform.leolabs.space/visualization