BLAK LUB: Jessica Johnson at The Black Canoe, 24 October – 22 November 2026

Our current show is BLAK LUB, a collection of work by Jessica Johnson, and it is on the walls at The Black Canoe Gallery & Cafe from 24 October to 22 November 2026. The opening was set for 6pm on Saturday 24 October 2026, and the show now has four weeks to run. This post covers what the show is, how to get the most out of a visit, and how to pair it with a coffee or a bite from the café, which shares the same room as the art.

What BLAK LUB is

The exhibition is introduced on its poster in one line, and we would rather share that line exactly than paraphrase it:

'Blak Lub' is a collection of old and new works by Sydney based Warumungu designer and artist, Jessica Johnson. XO

That sentence tells you most of what you need to walk in with. It is a mix of old and new work, so you are seeing more than one moment in an artist's practice side by side. And Jessica works as both a designer and artist, which is worth keeping in mind as you move around the room. The poster itself gives a taste of the energy: dense, layered patterning in pink, yellow, red, black and white, hand-drawn hearts and lines that loop across the page, and at its centre a heart in the colours of the Aboriginal flag.

The title does a lot of work too. It is warm, direct and signed off with "XO". We will let the works speak for what love means in them; the best way to find out is to stand in front of them.

You can see the poster and installation photographs on the show's own page: BLAK LUB at The Black Canoe.

Key details at a glance

• Show: BLAK LUB
• Artist: Jessica Johnson, Sydney based Warumungu designer and artist
• Dates: 24 October – 22 November 2026
• Opening: 6pm Saturday 24 October 2026
• Where: The Black Canoe Gallery & Cafe, Shop 1, 1-3 Botany Rd, Waterloo NSW 2017
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm (closed Mondays)
• Questions: 0406 499 888 or info@theblackcanoe.com.au

If you are planning a visit for a particular day, give us a quick call first. It is the easiest way to make sure the room is open and set up the way you expect.

How to visit

Give it two passes

Because BLAK LUB brings older and newer works together, it rewards a second lap. On the first pass, just let the colour and scale land. On the second, slow down and look at how the pieces talk to each other: what carries through from the older work into the newer, and what has shifted. Look closely at the surfaces and the edges, and at the artist's "JJ" signature on the works.

Bring someone

The Black Canoe is a gallery and a café in the same room, so it is a natural place to bring a friend, a colleague or family. Exhibitions here are not a hushed, in-and-out experience. You can sit down, talk about what you have seen, and go back for another look.

Ask us about the work

If something stops you, ask. We are always happy to talk about the show, about what else is in the gallery, and about how buying art works with us. If a piece in the exhibition is available, we can tell you how to go about it.

Pairing the show with the café

Our line for the café is simple: Coffee brewed slow. Art held close. We are a small batch café built for slow mornings, and an exhibition visit fits neatly around that. Some easy pairings from our menu:

• A quick look before work: a Flat White, Long Black or Cappuccino ($5.00) while you take a first pass of the room.
• A slower morning: a Chai Tea or English Breakfast ($5.00), or a Matcha ($6.00), and a second lap of the show once you have settled in.
• A warm day: an Iced Latte or Iced Mocha ($7.00), or an Iced Matcha ($6.00).
• Lunch on the move: a Toastie ($12.00), a Pie, Burek or Sausage Roll ($8.00).

Gluten free options are available; ask our team about today's flavours. The full list and current prices are always on the menu page.

Taking a piece home

Everything in our shop is original and one of a kind, and once a piece sells it is gone. When you buy through the website, you choose a piece, select "Buy this piece" and go to a secure payment page. Once payment is confirmed, we contact you by email to arrange collection from the gallery or shipping. You can browse what is currently available in the shop, and if you have questions about a specific piece, get in touch before buying.

Buying directly from an Aboriginal-owned gallery is one of the most direct ways to support the artists we show. If you would like to read more on that, our guide to buying Aboriginal art ethically covers the questions worth asking wherever you buy.

Where BLAK LUB sits in our program

BLAK LUB is the latest in a run of shows that has kept the room changing since our first exhibition in August 2025. Recent shows include How we move in the dry by Molly Hunt (01.08.26) and the LSJ Private Collection (2 August – 15 August), and the archive goes back through Matcha Social Club, Fuá by Jessika Victória, Land Sea & Sky by Faith McLeod, Damn Girl by Jesse Walsh and many more. You can scroll the full list on our exhibitions page, or read about the artists in Meet the artists.

Planning an event during the show?

If you have an event coming up, there is something special about hosting it with an exhibition on the walls. The space is available for private celebrations, corporate functions, workshops, launches and community gatherings. Venue booking includes a $500 refundable security bond and a minimum $100 catering spend, with catering provided exclusively by The Black Canoe Gallery Café from three curated menus. Tell us about your event on the Book our space page.

Stay in the loop

Shows at The Black Canoe change often, and the best way to hear about the next opening is to join our mailing list (the sign-up is in the footer of every page) or follow us on Instagram at @theblackcanoe.au. BLAK LUB runs until 22 November 2026. Come for a coffee, stay for the show.