A lifetime’s worth of works from one of Australia’s most significant living artists will be on display in an exhibition at the Ipswich Art Gallery later this month.
Painting the Celestial is the first comprehensive retrospective exhibition by celebrated Ipswich-based painter Leonard Brown.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the landmark exhibition would celebrate Brown’s extraordinary contribution to Australian art while honouring his enduring place in the cultural fabric of Ipswich.
“This major exhibition traces Leonard Brown’s evolution over five decades and represents an important cultural moment for the Ipswich community,” Mayor Harding said.
“As a long-term resident, Brown’s achievements highlight the extraordinary creative talent that thrives within our region.
“Painting the Celestial provides local audiences and visitors with a rare opportunity to engage deeply with the work of a nationally celebrated artist who has chosen to call Ipswich home.
“Ipswich Art Gallery is undergoing a stunning transformation to create an immersive, contemplative environment that invites viewers to enter a world where art becomes a bridge between the material and the spiritual.”
Brown is regarded nationally for his sublime, minimal abstract paintings, with several of his works held in major public collections including the National Gallery of Australia, Queensland Art Gallery, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of South Australia and Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Economic and Cultural Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Pye Augustine said exhibitions to the standard of Painting the Celestial helped propel the city’s arts scene forward.
“Council’s 10-year vision Our Creative Future 2025-2035 is for Ipswich to be a nationally recognised creative city, shaped by its people, powered by its spirit and grounded in its history,” Cr Augustine said.
“Exhibitions to the standard of Painting the Celestial play an important role in turning that vision into reality.
“More than 100,000 people visit Ipswich Art Gallery each year, making it one of the most visited regional art galleries in Australia.
“This exhibition will be a significant drawcard for visitors from across Queensland and beyond, further strengthening Ipswich’s growing reputation as a city that nurtures and champions arts and culture.”
Painting the Celestial has been curated by esteemed curator and academic Sasha Grishin AM FAHA and will run from Saturday 28 March to Sunday 14 June 2026. Ipswich Art Gallery is currently closed until 27 March 2026 to allow for installation of the exhibition.
For more information about Painting the Celestial and other Ipswich Art Gallery exhibitions, visit Ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au
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