Back in 2009, Kate Owen Gallery was proud to present the 3 Kings exhibition, where Sarrita and Tarisse paid homage to their father, the highly respected artist and elder, William King Jungala (1966 – 2007). Back then, the girls wove their own styles with that of their father and produced fascinating interplays of colour, design, heritage and spirit.  While still at the early stages of their careers, we could tell that the girls were set to become big names in the Aboriginal Art world.

Flash forward five years, and the King Sisters have cemented themselves as the exciting next generation of Aboriginal artists. Still honouring their father’s stories, the sisters have matured and developed their own unique style which has seen them displayed in galleries throughout Australia and around the world. Their works are vibrant, striking and contemporary.

Sarrita King became a household name after one of her ‘Earth Cycles’ paintings featured on The Block All Stars (2013) and truly set the space off. Since then it has been a whirlwind for Sarrita, as she continues to grow in popularity both in Australia and overseas, particularly in Europe.

We are thrilled Sarrita has accepted our invitation to be our inaugural artist in residence. Sarrita’s philosophy in life and art is that it is all about sharing; storytelling through art, bringing the viewer in to her culture and creating a connection.

Visitors to the gallery during our artist in residency program are in for a treat!  Watch this space as we will post some photos and interviews with Sarrita in the gallery shortly!

Meet Sarrita at the Gallery in September

Saturday 13^th and Sunday 14^th

Saturday 20^th and Sunday 21^st

11am – 1pm and 3pm-5pm

no bookings necessary!

Left: Ronnie Tjampitjinpa painting Tingari-Fire Dreaming Middle: Clifford Possum painting Night Sky Story Right: Johnny Warangkula Tjupurula

The exhibition title from little things big things grow comes from the song of the same name by Australian artists Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody. Written in the 1980’s, it tells the inspiring story of the Gurindji people's struggle for equality and land rights after their 'walk off' at the Wave Hill property in 1966.  It is a story of hope and optimism. So too is the story of Papunya.

Little did we know back in 1971 - when a young school teacher encouraged the men of Papunya to paint using traditional Aboriginal iconography from the Western Desert – that we were about to witness the birth of the Aboriginal Art Movement.  From humble beginnings, the artists of Papunya are now known as the founders and ‘Masters’ of the Aboriginal Art Movement. In the years since, the artists of Papunya have made a profound contribution to the movement and international contemporary art.

This exhibition showcases the art of the great Papunya masters and the artists who got their start in this humble settlement. Their vibrant and innovative works give enduring expression to their powerful Tjukurrpa (Dreamings) and simply reverberate with a pulsating energy in our third level collectors’ gallery.

Many of the pieces on display are museum quality works, but unlike similar works in public galleries, these are available for purchase.

We do hope you can visit the gallery in August and experience this superb exhibition.

Can’t visit the gallery? Don’t  worry, you can view the online exhibition here.

As I step into the charcoal gallery I feel as if I have been transported to the dreamtime; a time and place where all animals live in unspoiled harmony.  Turbo’s engaging pictorial style and irresistibly quirky critters have an unabashed loveliness to them.

His Tasmanian Tiger appears to be smiling right at you

While the Sixteen Pink Galahs are happy chatting amongst themselves, basking in the afternoon sun

Turbo’s work may seem naive in the simplicity of form, but there is an incredible energy in the dynamic composition, colour and line.

Using bright colours and bold outline, he usually works on a large scale and paints quickly using unmixed acrylic paint. His Engaging pictorial style and distinctive creatures from the dreamtime makes his works pulsate with an irresistible and syncopated beat.

Here, Turbo depicts two wombats – one above ground and the second appears to be nestled safely in their borrow, almost as if viewed from an aerial perspective.  It is this innovative and bold style that has seen Turbo achieve substantial recognition in just a few short years, as well as carve out a significant exhibition history. 

This will be a very fun opening weekend - the exhibition is a burst of colour and life; a celebration of Turbo and of Koorie culture and spirit. I encourage you all to visit the gallery this weekend and spend some time in Turbo’s Dreamtime.

To view all of Turbo’s artwork click here.

To read his incredible Biography, click here.

a fusion of contemporary interior design and aboriginal art

21 February - 9 March 2014

Do you look at shots like these and wonder how can I get that look in my place?

We've noticed a lot of our clients have specific interior needs, so we have fused the art of interior design and Aboriginal art in this exciting exhibition!

Four renowned interior designers will transform Kate Owen Gallery and we will have a fine dining, living, bedroom & staircase installation showcasing some fantastic design pieces and, of course, some sensational Aboriginal art!

Visit the gallery to chat with the designers and our art consultants about your specific interior needs & book a free consultation for your home or office.

We will have an opening expo this Saturday with drinks & canapes so come by with a group of friends and be inspired!

opening expo
Saturday 22 February 
11 - 4

click here to find out more about this exhibition