From Gallery to Art School: Jane’s Journey in Art Education

When Prince Gallery first opened its doors in 1988, it was a place for art lovers to discover and collect works from around the world. But years later, founder Lan Jian (Jane) found herself facing a new calling. As a mother, she wanted her two sons to grow up surrounded by art—not only on the walls, but in their own hands.

What began as a mother teaching her children to draw slowly grew into something much larger. More and more families in the community joined, and what was once a gallery transformed into Prince Gallery Art School.

A video from those years captures the spirit of this transformation: the cheerful classrooms in Gladesville filled with the energy of young learners and the quiet focus of adult students rediscovering their creativity. There were kids’ art lessons where little hands learned to sketch and paint, teen art programs guiding students through HSC Visual Arts, and adult classes where art lovers picked up the brush again after many years.

Jane also brought art into the rhythm of community life—Paint & Sip evenings that blended creativity with friendship, birthday parties that gave children a joyful and creative celebration, and school holiday programs that filled the long breaks with discovery and imagination.

Her dedication bore fruit. Many students went on to achieve excellence, with several earning Band 6 results in HSC Visual Arts and gaining admission to their dream universities. For the younger ones, holiday programs became a place of exploration, where creativity bloomed and friendships were made. For families, birthday parties in the studio gave children celebrations filled with color and laughter. For adults, weekly classes became a sanctuary—a place to unwind, create, and reconnect with forgotten passions.

Through all of this, Jane poured her heart into building not just an art school, but a community of creativity. Prince Gallery Art School became a place where art was more than technique—it was growth, joy, and connection.