Leonard Brown's Major Retrospective at Ipswich Art Gallery Explores Five Decades of Spiritual Art
From March 28 to June 14, 2026, the Ipswich Art Gallery in Queensland will present 'Leonard Brown — Painting the Celestial,' a comprehensive retrospective of the artist's oeuvre. Curated by Emeritus Professor Sasha Grishin AM, FAHA, this exhibition will display nearly one hundred artworks, spanning from Brown's early classes in 1963–64 to his latest pieces. Born in Brisbane in 1949, Brown became a member of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1976, which has significantly shaped his artistic style, including minimal non-figurative works and traditional icons. Notable pieces include 'the cloud of unknowing' (2018) and 'Holy Prophet and Forerunner of the Lord, John the Baptist' (2015). His award-winning entries from the Blake Prize and Brisbane Portrait Prize will also be featured. Brown currently lives in Ipswich.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Leonard Brown — Painting the Celestial' runs from March 28 to June 14, 2026 at Ipswich Art Gallery in Queensland.
- The retrospective features nearly one hundred works spanning over five decades of Leonard Brown's career.
- Guest curator Emeritus Professor Sasha Grishin AM, FAHA organized the show, highlighting Brown's dual practice of minimal abstracts and traditional icon paintings.
- Leonard Brown was born in Brisbane in 1949 and has been a Russian Orthodox Church member since 1976, following earlier religious affiliations.
- The exhibition includes early works from art classes with Betty Churcher (1963–64) and studies at Central Technical College Art School, Brisbane.
- Notable works include 'the cloud of unknowing' (2018) and icon 'Holy Prophet and Forerunner of the Lord, John the Baptist' (2015) using egg tempera and gold leaf.
- Brown won the Blake Prize in 2010 and the inaugural Brisbane Portrait Prize in 2019, with both pieces featured in the show.
- A gold-painted sanctuary-like space was created for the icons, described by Grishin as an unprecedented installation in an Australian gallery.
Entities
Artists
- Leonard Brown
- Betty Churcher
- Mick Richards
- Emma-Kate Wilson
Institutions
- Ipswich Art Gallery
- Russian Orthodox Church
- Roman Catholic Church
- Anglican Brookfield Friary
- Central Technical College Art School, Brisbane
- Garry Anderson's Sydney gallery
- Queensland Art Gallery
- Blake Prize
- Brisbane Portrait Prize
- Art Almanac
Locations
- Ipswich
- Queensland
- Brisbane
- Australia
- Sydney
- New South Wales
- Gumbaynggirr Country
- Bellingen