BILK Gallery for contemporary metal and glass is holding its first exhibition for 2019. “Glass Miniatures” features works by Ben Edols and Kathy Elliott, Jess Loughlin, Ian Mowbray, Donald Friedlich, Moje.E. and Mel Douglas. It opens at Palmerston Lane, Manuka, 6pm-8pm, February 22, all welcome. There will also be works by Tom Rowney, Scott Chaseling, Jenni Kemarre Martinello, Clare Belfrage, Janice Vitkovsky and Hannah Gason.

THE National Photographic Portrait Prize opens to the public at the National Portrait Gallery on Saturday, February 23, and is on display until Sunday, April 7, before touring to regional locations around Australia.

“BLACK Mountain in Miniatures” is a series of paintings focusing on light, patterns and the natural subjects of Black Mountain by illustrator-artist Frank Knight in conjunction with the Friends of Black Mountain. The show opens at the Visitor Information Centre, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunes Ross Street, Acton, at 12.30pm, Wednesday, February 20 and runs until March 10.

MEGALO International Prize Exhibition is opening at 6pm, Thursday, February 21 (all welcome) at 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston, until April 6. Announcements of the first prize, $10,000, the second prize of $5000, the people’s choice of $1000, and the Lerida Estate acquisitive prize of $2500 will be made in following weeks.

TUGGERANONG Arts Centre’s Gallery Two is filled with the colourful works of Ellen Sleeman-Taylor, joint winner of Tuggeranong Arts Centre’s 2018 Emerging Artists Support Scheme Award. TAC’s Gallery Manager Narelle Phillips says the work in “Warm Peaches” is a playful, interactive sculptural installation in appreciation of the peach emoji. The exhibition continues until March 2.

QUEANBEYAN Art Society is praising the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council for providing assistance for the repainting of the Queanbeyan Art Society Gallery in Trinculo Place, Queanbeyan, and welcomes all members of the community to come along to enjoy the artworks and to appreciate the newly painted gallery and landscaping.

NANCY Sever Gallery welcomes back Arryn Snowball with his latest exhibition “Mobbed by Clouds”. The work in this exhibition relates to the Pacific Ocean and is part of an expansive, ongoing collaboration called “Slack Water” with Brisbane poet Nathan Shepherdson. Opens at the Nancy Sever Gallery, Gorman Arts Centre, 6pm, Wednesday,  February 20 and runs Wednesday to Sunday until March 17.

A MASTERPIECE collection of Australian art, the Geoff Hassall collection, will be launched by writer and curator Quentin Sprague at the ANU Drill Hall Gallery, Kingsley Street, Acton, 6pm Thursday, February 21, all welcome. Hassall will be in conversation with Sprague and Terence Maloon at noon, Friday, February 22 and the exhibition runs until April 14, 10am–5pm, Wednesday to Sunday.