Revered artist Ken Done brings previously unseen works to Townsville

Locals and visitors to Townsville will have the chance to feast their eyes on the works of one of Australia’s best recognized artists, Ken Done.

Paintings You Probably Haven’t Seen: Selected Works 2000-2017 is a vibrant and playful exhibition being housed at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery from this Friday, 6 December.

This is the first time Townsville will host a solo exhibition by Done.

Done said this collection contained some of his favourite works that hadn’t been widely exhibited.

“These paintings were all done since the year 2000,” he said.

“They are sometimes works done on location or sometimes in the studio. And some are just what was in my imagination.”

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said she was pleased to welcome yet another exhibition of national gallery calibre to Townsville.

“Townsville is the arts hub of Northern Australia, and I am very happy to see an internationally-recognised artist like Ken Done exhibiting here at Perc Tucker,” Cr Hill said.

“As part of the new Arts Strategy 2020-2024, Council is hoping to attract more renowned artists like Ken Done to show their work here in Townsville.”

Townsville City Galleries’ Creative Director Jonathan McBurnie said it was a pleasure to be able to showcase a series of works with such cultural significance.

“Ken Done has been creating art that represents this country for more than 40 years now, and we are thrilled to be able to share some of his lesser-known works with locals and visitors to town,” Dr McBurnie said.

“A lot of the paintings feature the things that Done loves best, including the beach and the reef. There aren’t many people who live up here in the tropics who don’t have a deep love for both of these topics.”

Paintings You Probably Haven’t Seen: Selected Works 2000-2017 will be exhibited at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery until 9 February 2020.

Entry to the gallery is free.