WEST MEETS EAST

This two part exhibition features works from the gallery and studio of the Kimberley's Red Rock Art run from 1997 to 2016 by Kevin and Jenny Kelly. Plus colourful acrylics from the Utopia region of Central Australia.  

In 1993 former Museum Victoria exhibitions officer Kevin Kelly became manager of Waringarri Arts, Kununurra. Here he worked with Rover Thomas, Queenie McKenzie and other famous founding Kimberley artists. In 1997, Kevin and Jenny Kelly established Red Rock Art to provide a space for artists not represented by the Kimberley's community art centres.  For 11 years, Red Rock Art worked with up to 40 artists from the Great Sandy Desert to Wave Hill – in effect creating a parallel school of Kimberley ochre painting.

This selection from the collection of Red Rock Art includes rare ochres by Jimmy McKenzie, Jock Mosquito, Lloyd Kwilla, Nancy Noonju, Nellie Gordon and Ned Johns. 

In contrast to the earth-toned Kimberley works, paintings by the women artists of Utopia, 230km northeast of Alice Springs, have become famous for vibrant colour. Subjects include women’s ceremonies, plants used for bush medicine and food, and representations of important women's sites. Included here are  works by senior artists Jeannie Mills Pwerle and Emily Pwerle and younger painters Belinda and Janet Golder Kngwarreye, Bernadine Kemarre, Charmaine Pwerle, Rochelle Bird Mbitjana and Selina Teece Pwerle.