Seven Curios from Brett Whiteley's Studio Revealed Ahead of Exhibition
The Art Gallery of New South Wales is gearing up for the 'Brett Whiteley: Coming Home' exhibition, launching on July 25. They’ve shared pictures of seven fascinating items found in Brett Whiteley’s studio. Among these are a note from singer Paul Kelly that goes with his 1985 album 'Post', a hat box holding sealed bags with locks of Whiteley’s hair that he often used in self-portraits, and a US flag tied to his 1969 drug arrest in Fiji. Other items include a hand mirror from his 1976 Archibald Prize-winning piece, a travel trunk from his time at New York's Chelsea Hotel, a 1962 honeymoon photo of Wendy Whiteley in France, and a quote from Jean Cocteau. The exhibition features 80 pieces of Whiteley’s art. He died in 1992, and his Raper Street studio has been restored.
Key facts
- Brett Whiteley's studio contained a note from Paul Kelly with his 1985 album 'Post' and a handwritten letter.
- A hat box of Whiteley's hair in sealed sandwich bags was found; he used hair on self-portraits.
- A US flag draped over a balcony in Fiji in 1969 led to a police search and Whiteley's arrest for opium possession.
- A hand mirror used in Whiteley's Archibald Prize-winning self-portrait 'Self portrait in the studio' (1976) was found.
- The self-portrait was purchased by the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1977.
- Whiteley's travel trunk was used from London to New York and then to Australia, staying at the Chelsea Hotel.
- Honeymoon photos of Brett and Wendy Whiteley in southern France (1962) were discovered during restoration.
- A wall quote attributed to Jean Cocteau reads 'Every Time I Look In The Mirror/ I See Death At Work.'
Entities
Artists
- Brett Whiteley
- Paul Kelly
- Wendy Whiteley
- Jean Cocteau
- Leonard Cohen
- Janis Joplin
- Carolee Schneemann
- Philip Quirk
Institutions
- Art Gallery of New South Wales
- Brett Whiteley Studio
- Fiji Times
- Chelsea Hotel
Locations
- Suva
- Fiji
- London
- New York
- Australia
- Surry Hills
- France
- Raper Street