Ellis Rowan: Colonialism and Nature Painting
Step into the captivating world of Ellis Rowan, a trailblazing 19th-century Australian botanical artist whose breathtaking watercolours and solo expeditions pushed the boundaries of art and exploration.
This exhibition highlights Rowan's remarkable travels from 1880 to 1910, taking you on a journey from Rockhampton to the Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea, through extraordinary paintings, sketches, diary entries, and photographs.
Experience the beauty and detail of Rowan’s work through 28 original watercolour paintings depicting plants and flowers, paired with objects from the Queensland Museum Collection that explore how First Nations peoples used these plants in everyday life.
Exhibition I Autumn: Views of the Season
Ablaze with colour, cool in melancholy or ripe for serene reflection, the autumn of life is the summit of maturity and a stage of decline and fall. This exhibition conveys some of the tones, moods and emotions associated with autumn.
Exhibition I Alchemy: Works by Sir Lionel Lindsay
Australian artist Sir Lionel Lindsay once invoked "the strange alchemy of Fate.' Alchemy means, among other things, transforming base elements into gold.
For one reviewer, 'Lindsay, by an alchemy of his own, plucks light from the air and plants it on paper.' After his death in 1961, Lindsay's brother Daryl wrote, 'His studio was like a 16th century Alchemist's den.'
Exhibition I Contemplations of Reproduction
Drawing on themes of materiality; process, repetition, biology and personal narratives, artists Vivien Bedwell, Renee Kire, Clare Poppi, Hannaneh Qiumarsi, Katie Stormonth and Rebekah Walkarden explore differing perspectives of 'reproduction' through a variety of mediums from contemporary wearable pieces to small sculptural objects in their exhibition Contemplations of Reproduction.
Exhibition | The Body Vessel: Desire – Aurora Elwell
The Body Vessel: Desire is a collection of ceramic vessels that emerged from Aurora Elwell’s personal exploration into the nature of yearning - how it shapes, compels, and often consumes us. Elwell’s artistic practice is driven by a desire to understand her own emotions, which she interprets into tangible forms. Desire is not a simple or singular feeling; it is a complex force that pulls us in different directions, simultaneously creating a sense of longing, fulfillment and emptiness.
Exhibition | John Elliott - Almost A True Story
Known for his social documentary photography, John Elliott’s portraits of Australian icons and country music legends celebrate the lives and passions of people across this country.
A consummate storyteller, John has been photographing the people and places of regional Australia for fifty years.
Exhibition | Brushes of Sunlight: Oils from the Lindsay Collection
The Lindsay Collection was established by William and Marion Bolton in Toowoomba in the 1950s. It was officially opened by Prime Minister Robert Menzies in 1959 and has been housed at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery since 1994.
Guided by the collection’s namesake Sir Lionel Lindsay and his brother Sir Daryl Lindsay, the Boltons acquired works by ‘Masters of Australian painting’ (Bill Bolton letter to Sir Lionel, 1 July 1957). The Lindsays were eminent artists and Sir Daryl was Director of the National Gallery of Victoria 1941-1956.