Lure of the Sun: Charles Blackman in Queensland

Overview

When artist Charles Blackman made the journey from Sydney to Brisbane in the late 1940s, his work was forever changed. The city gave birth to some of his most famous pieces, and Queensland would continue to be influential in his output for the rest of his career.

That makes the Queensland Art Gallery a rather fitting venue for an exhibition of Blackman's Sunshine State-inspired efforts. Amassing more than 50 paintings and works on paper — as sourced from more than 12 private and state collections — Lure of the Sun: Charles Blackman in Queensland explores his development, the connections and friendships he made while living north of the border, and their ongoing impact.

Appropriately, it also displays his work alongside the likes of fellow Australian artists Laurence Hope, Laurence Collinson and Jon Molvig, compiling a trip through Blackman's artistic history both on and off the canvas. Think of it as a snapshot not only of one of the nation's most important painters, but of a creative social network.

Image: Blackman, Charles. Australia b.1928 / The Blue Alice 1956-57 / Tempera, oil and household enamel on composition board / Purchased 2000. The Queensland Government's special Centenary Fund / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art.