Step into the Ironbark Gallery at Strathfield Library and you’d think you’d stumbled across a professional art exhibition.

Intricate paintings, meticulous sculptures, inventive installations – all of the highest quality and on display for everyone to admire.

But the exhibition “Thinking in Pictures” is the work of students from Chalmers Road School, a school for students with medium to high needs in Sydney’s inner west.

It’s the brainchild of the school’s artist in residence, Howard Matthew.

"My philosophy as an artist is to empower students to create work like professional artists and exhibit like professional artists,” he said.

Thinking In Pictures was curated following a competitive application process open to all artists.

It is the gallery’s first solo exhibition by any school and offers students a professional platform to showcase their work in a public space.

“Thinking In Pictures celebrates the skills and strengths of our students in visual arts,” Mr Matthew said.

“It recognises the diversity of our students, many of whom use pictorial devices and image-based means of communication; they think in pictures. As an exhibition it validates the work of our students and acknowledges their contribution to the cultural life of the local community." 

The exhibition was launched on International Day of People with Disability to recognise the diverse abilities of the school’s students, and the dedication of its staff.

The importance of this for the students involved cannot be overstated.

Malak is the new school captain at Chalmers Road.

“I loved creating the artworks because of the colours and I really enjoyed the sculpting process because I could be hands-on with the materials,” she said.

“The art is a great way for me to express myself.”

Joseph said he enjoys art because he can make projects he is proud of.

“I want to go to the exhibition with my family to show them the work I have done.”

Thinking in Pictures runs until the 2nd of February.

Check out this video, explaining the concept behind the exhibition.