Artist Peter Kingston’s quirky portraits of prominent Australian women have gone on public display for the first time with the reopening of the State Library’s Amaze Gallery last weekend (20 March).
In a statement, the Library said the exhibition included Mr Kingston’s portraits of Ita Buttrose, Julia Gillard and Wendy Whiteley as well as some newly acquired items from its collection.
“Kingston’s new series of personal portraits of 27 unique and powerful women in his life (Ita is his aunt and Whiteley, his neighbour) form his latest artist’s book Sheilas – a companion to Blokes and Gents, recently donated to the State Library, which holds an extensive collection of his etchings, prints and artist’s books,” the Library said.
“Other highlights going on display in Amaze include Fake truths: An historical novel, a collection of paintings and stories offering a contemporary response to items in the Library’s collection by its fifth artist-in-residence Hadyn Wilson,” it said.
The Library said a selection of rare books by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, including his masterpiece The Divine Comedy (1320), would go on display this weekend (27 March) as part of a worldwide commemoration of the 700th anniversary of Dante’s death in 1321.
Further information on the current and upcoming exhibitions at the State Library can be accessed at this PS News link.
