Isaac Walter Jenner: A force in Brisbane’s cultural life

The exhibition ‘A Feeling for Light’ at the Queensland Art Gallery from 2 September 2023 until 28 January 2024, explores the evocative paintings of Isaac Walter Jenner (1836–1902), a self-taught marine and landscape painter. Following his arrival in Brisbane in 1883 (illustrated), Jenner spent the last two decades of his life as a major force…

Wattles in flower

As we celebrate National Wattle Day on the first day of September each year, we delve into two works that include the wattle — with over 1,000 species of acacia Australia-wide, it’s the nation’s largest family of flowering plants. While the flowering times of wattle vary greatly depending on the region, Australia’s national flower —…

Drowned Mercedes

The exhibition ‘Michael Zavros: The Favourite’ featured the ambitious new sculpture Drowned Mercedes 2023 (illustrated), for which Michael Zavros has filled the cabin of a classic 1990s Mercedes-Benz SL convertible with water. Michael Zavros ‘Drowned Mercedes’ 2023 The most immediate interpretation might be that the car has been ruined through neglect, vandalism or an unusual…

Go back in time to a sultry Queensland afternoon

Throughout the 1920s and 30s Queensland artists painted outdoors, their subject matter ranged widely from the beach, the bush, to the city. Vida Lahey was no exception, however during the early 30s Lahey was absorbed by sites around Brisbane and in 1931 painted Sultry noon focusing on the architecture of Brisbane’s Central Railway Station and…

Gold and pearl bracelet: A glimpse of Queensland’s history

This charming gold and pearl bracelet on display at the Queensland Art Gallery, is a lovely example of work by the Brisbane firm Flavelle, Roberts & Sankey, and represents the local jeweller’s skill as well as providing a glimpse of Queensland’s history. The gold bracelet is the most significant piece of Queensland jewellery to come…

Michael Zavros: Horses, centaurs & the mystique of the cowboy

Michael Zavros was an Australian national showjumper as a teenager, so thoroughbreads are in his blood. During the Royal Queensland Show — which locals have affectionately shortened the name to ‘Ekka’ — we look at a range of works that delve into the artist’s interest in horses, including centaurs and the mystique of the cowboy.…