Vale: Mavis Ngallametta

On 28 January, Mrs Waal-Waal Mavis Ngallametta (1944–2019), one of Queensland’s most esteemed senior artists, passed away at the age of 74, surrounded by family at her home in Aurukun, in far north Queensland. A traditional owner, elder of the Putch clan and cultural leader of the Wik and Kugu people, Mavis Ngallametta is remembered…

Noel McKenna appreciates the things of Australia

The Gallery has been gifted three of Brisbane-born artist Noel McKenna’s map paintings, the artist’s gentle and good humoured appreciation for the ‘things’ of Australia makes us better acquainted with our country, and with ourselves. Peter McKay profiles our three new works and delves into their inspiration. Australian Racecourse Locations Australian Racecourse Locations 2002 is, in…

Bask in purple bloom of the jacaranda all year round

Paintings of jacarandas in bloom have become a popular and appealing subject for Brisbane artists, the most famous image of the jacaranda is R. (Richard) Godfrey Rivers’s painting Under the jacaranda, which has achieved enormous popularity since it was painted and acquired by the Gallery in 1903. The image depicts Rivers and his wife Selina…

Passage to Belle-Île: A motif for John Russell’s paintings

John Russell, like his contemporaries Claude Monet and Henri Matisse, were particularly captivated and inspired by the small island of Belle-Île, with its vivid turquoise waters, steep cliffs and craggy rock formations. Roger Benjamin visited France’s wild Atlantic coast to explore the island’s resonance as a motif in French painting. In June 2018, before the…

LJ Harvey and his school

Lewis Jarvis (LJ) Harvey (1871−1949) was the single greatest influence on visual culture in Queensland in the first half of the twentieth century, this important artist and teacher, and his students, highlights why Harvey was such an inspirational figure. Harvey was a distinguished modeller, woodcarver, potter and teacher active in Queensland during the first half…

Kenneth Macqueen: A fresh approach to Australian landscape

Exceptional works in both style and subject, a generous gift of five paintings by Kenneth Macqueen (1897-1960) from the artist’s son and daughter‑in-law, Revan and Nell Macqueen, not only add to the Gallery’s existing holdings, but also confirm QAGOMA as the largest institutional holder of works by this significant Australian artist. Five new works by…