Current Exhibitions
WORD/WORKS II
by
Barbara Penrose / Nameer Davis
30.Jan – 21. Feb 2026
Artist Talk : Saturday 7th .Feburary 2-3 PM
| In the realm of the creative arts, it is common to observe collaborations between couples. A relationship and its transactional dialogue can leaven a fertile ground for ideas. Within the artistic domain, numerous exemplary partnerships have displayed engaging creative collaborations. Well known are Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, their tumultuous, passionate relationship helped seed their influential art work. Also popularly acknowledged, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, an iconic artistic duo renowned for their large-scale artworks commissioned globally. The idea for this exhibition, WORDS/WORKS II, by Barbara Penrose and Nameer Davis, originated from my visit to the artist’s studio in Stanthorpe in early 2025. Initially, I was impressed by the remarkable sight of a couple working side by side, supporting and challenging each other’s artistic processes and decisions. At the core of this exhibition lies the concept that artistic differences need not result in conflict or compromise. Rather, their relationship is maintained through mutual respect and admiration – an acknowledgement that each artist’s journey enriches the other, even when their aesthetic, conceptual and stylistic positions diverge. This respect is clearly demonstrated in their responses to one another’s art: sometimes challenging, sometimes echoing, and occasionally resisting the choices being made in each of their work. By presenting their works in juxtaposition, the exhibition encourages viewers to engage with two distinct visual languages and to appreciate how art can embody opposing ideas within a shared space. Consequently, WORDS/WORKS II serves as a reflection on partnership – how two individuals can remain true to themselves while sharing a life, studio, and an ongoing inquiry into the nature of art. |