Lucky for us, Ken Done is still colouring our world
HOTA Gallery on the Gold Coast seems the perfect venue for a major exhibition of the vibrant and joyful outpourings of Ken Done, who remains much loved as one of our most iconic artists.
Ken Done’s art is as colourful as some of those colourful identities on the Gold Coast. So it seems only proper that HOTA Gallery in Surfers Paradise should mount a major exhibition of his work.
Ken Done: No Rules, which opens September 13 and runs until February 2026, is curated in partnership with The Ken Done Gallery, Sydney. It will resonate with the spirit of Done’s practice and deep commitment to the process of painting, with his joyful, bold and unmistakably Australian works having captured the public imagination for more than four decades.
From his iconic depictions of the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney Harbour to reflective paintings of his home and garden, Ken Done: No Rules will showcase Done’s exuberant painting practice. This landmark exhibition is set to feature paintings from the ’80s to today and will draw largely from Done’s personal collection, capturing his signature optimism and enduring love of colour, nature and life.
“I’m delighted to be having such a major exhibition in such a beautiful gallery,” Done says. “To have the chance to see works from over 40 years shown together is very special for me and I hope it brings pleasure to a wide audience.”
He’s an independent spirit and a bit of an outlier in the art world
At a youthful 85, Done continues to create work that reflects his personal philosophy: “That an artist can – and should – create their own rules.”
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He’s an independent spirit and a bit of an outlier in the art world. I recall an exhibition of his work at Philip Bacon Galleries in Brisbane many years ago. There were a few raised eyebrows about that in the sometimes-snooty world of the arts. It was a vote of confidence in him as a great artist by Philip Bacon, despite the fact that in some circles Ken Done has been denigrated for being too commercial. It makes you laugh, really. What people probably meant was that he was too successful – and they were jealous!
I put this to Ken Done when we chatted prior to the show.
“It has always struck me as rather bizarre that people would have these snooty feelings about my work,” Done says. “An artist should be able to make money … as much money as a plumber. And I’m certainly not the first person to do commercial things with my art. Matisse, Picasso and so many others have done that.”
In fact, nowadays artists work across genres and into the commercial realm more and more. And major galleries all have flash gift shops that you are spat out into at the end of your viewing experience. (Remember Banksy’s 2010 film, Exit Through The Gift Shop?)
Ken Done’s work has translated into all sorts of items including clothing. He has always been proud of that. So was his mum.
“My mother would have run across Red Square if she saw someone wearing one of my sweatshirts saying … My son did that!” he says with a chuckle.
Done is in many ways our national artist, more so than most. And when the 2000 Olympics were held in Sydney, he was the artistic go-to man.
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“I did a lot of work for that,” he says, “And I also did the outside of the Australian Pavilion at World Expo 88 in Brisbane.”
He also had a shop for many years in Orchid Avenue in Surfers Paradise. The lively colour of his designs perfectly matches the Gold Coast vibe. And the vibrant HOTA Gallery is the perfect venue for a major exhibition, as far as he is concerned. “And it’s a big exhibition,” he says.
There are more than 100 works so it will be a riot of colour. There will be paintings of his home environment at Chinaman’s Beach on Sydney Harbour and joyful celebrations of the Great Barrier Reef where he has dived many times. There are also more cerebral pieces that are homages to great Australian artists such as Lloyd Rees and Sidney Nolan (including visual references to his Ned Kelly paintings).
‘Ken Done’s work has long been a part of the fabric of Australian visual culture’
The plethora of Ken Done works on show will surprise and delight, according to Experience Gold Coast’s head of arts and culture Yarmila Alfonzetti.
“Ken Done’s work has long been a part of the fabric of Australian visual culture, and it’s a joy to bring this expansive and deeply personal exhibition to the Gold Coast,” she says. “Done’s fearless use of colour and his belief in creative freedom align beautifully with our commitment to bringing world-class exhibitions to the Gold Coast. We can’t wait for audiences of all ages to step into his vivid, rule-breaking world.”
Visitors can also enjoy a captivating animation of a selection of Done’s iconic paintings, offering a new and immersive way to experience his vibrant universe. And, in a celebration of art, fashion and collaboration, the exhibition also features a selection of dazzling garments from Done Zone, the 2023 collaborative collection between Ken Done and renowned Australian fashion label Romance Was Born.
An exclusive Ken Done retail range will also be available at the HOTA shop for the length of the exhibition. We’d be disappointed if it was otherwise.
Ken Done: No Rules will be on show at HOTA Gallery, Surfers Paradise, September 13 to February 15.