Renowned Australian artists celebrated with three remarkable exhibitions

Visitors to John Curtin Gallery can immerse themselves in the works of globally renowned Australian artists over the coming months, through the exhibitions Brett Whiteley: Inside the Studio, John Stringer Prize 10 Year Retrospective and Aida Tomescu: in the midst of happening.

Focusing on the role an artist’s studio can play in creation, the Gallery will display works from beloved Australian artist Brett Whiteley, past winners of the prestigious John Stringer Prize and one of Australia’s greatest living painters, Aida Tomescu.

John Curtin Gallery Interim Director, Associate Professor Susanna Castleden, said it was a rare opportunity to host three exhibitions of such quality with a common thread running between them.

“In line with the studio theme, we are excited to also be delivering a full program of public events, workshops and film screenings to explore the ideas running through all three exhibitions,” Associate Professor Castleden said.

“There will be talks on Western Australian studio practice, still life drawing workshops, weekly screenings of Brett Whiteley documentaries, artist talks and tours for all ages.”

Opening alongside the exhibitions, visitors are also welcomed to Carrolup Kattidj Nagar (Peaceful Quiet Reflection), which features a selection of artworks from the Herbert Mayer Collection of Carrolup Artwork.

On tour from the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Brett Whiteley: Inside the Studio offers a rare and intimate insight into the artistic life of one of Australia’s best-known creative figures.

“This exhibition offers a significant opportunity to not only exhibit some of Whiteley’s key paintings but have an insight into his life and less-known works including ceramics and drawings,” Associate Professor Castleden said.

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the highly regarded John Stringer Prize, with works from previous prize winners Merrick Belyea, Jacobus Capone, Jacky Cheng, Erin Coates, Jarrad Martyn, Bjoern Rainer-Adamson, Stewart Scambler, Susan Roux, Alistair Rowe, Brendan Van Hek.

Awarded by the Collectors Club, the John Stringer Prize aims to provide exposure for Western Australian artists and their work while creating new relationships between artists, collectors and industry.

To celebrate the milestone anniversary, all 10 previous winners will create new works for the John Stringer Prize 10 Year Retrospective.

“The creative processes behind each work has been shared at studio visits with the Collectors Club and highlights a distinctive and eclectic representation of Western Australian artistic practice,” Associate Professor Castleden said.

Born in Bucharest, Romania, Aida Tomescu has lived and worked in Sydney since 1980 and gained widespread acclaim, receiving multiple awards and being represented in galleries across the world.

Her paintings, drawings and prints from 1987-2015 will form the Aida Tomescu: in the midst of happening exhibition.

John Curtin Gallery curator Lia McKnight said this would provide a rare opportunity for local art lovers to see Tomescu’s work up close.

“Aida is one of Australia’s greatest living painters, but her practice has not been well represented in WA,” Ms McKnight said.

“As a painter with a strong studio practice spanning 40 years in Australia, this felt like a meaningful pairing alongside Brett Whiteley: Inside the Studio and opens up conversations about gender representation.”

The exhibitions will be open to the public from October 25 to December 15, entry is free. Visit the John Curtin Gallery website for more information.