Works on Paper

Traditionally employed to sketch out ideas or as preparatory studies, the ease and immediacy of charcoal, graphite or paint directly onto paper has enabled ‘works on paper’ to evolve into finished pieces and highly collectible works. Often raw, intimate, direct and unfiltered, these works demand close engagement, creating private, momentary experiences that resonate with the viewer.

Highlights include Del Kathryn Barton’s volcanic women series, a visceral exploration of feminine energy rendered in inky red tones. Shown for the first time since its debut in Barton’s solo exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in 2017, the series brims with restrained chaos and transformative force. Tom Polo’s series of ‘understudy’ works explore the raw complexity of human relationships through gestural brushstrokes, considering the intersection of performance and identity. Jenny Watson contributes her signature self-portraits, whimsical horses, and semi-autobiographical narratives, layered on Italian botanical posters and lithograph prints, blending personal symbolism with visual nostalgia. Each work celebrates the depth and diversity of this versatile medium, demonstrating the artist’s mastery of painting, using paper to distil their broader practice into more intimate, nuanced forms.