On from 9 August to 16 November, this exhibition puts the archives of one of Melbourne’s prized artists on full display.
It’s not every day that we get a look behind the curtain of the life of a brilliant artist, but soon we will, courtesy of the Bunjil Place Gallery.
For the next few months, the Narre Warren venue will show the life’s work of award-winning Melbourne-based watercolour artist, Jennifer Mills. Spanning three decades, the expansive exhibition, titled Into the echo chamber, will feature more than 120 works not often seen together that chart the trajectory of the artist’s career.
Jennifer Mills: Into the Echo Chamber
- 9 August to 16 November
- Bunjil Place Gallery, 2 Patrick NE Dr, Narre Warren VIC
- Open from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Friday, and from 10am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday
- Free entry
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Rich with stories, the exhibition showcases a range of subject matter, from animals to cult television heroes, from suburban scenes to intimate family stories. It’ll also feature a few pieces that have never been seen before, as well as new works created in collaboration between Mills and her son Darcy Luker.
Praised for being heartfelt, ambiguous and even funny at times, the exhibition is free for all to enjoy and will be accompanied by a publication and a series of public learning programs.
Who is Jennifer Mills?
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Born in 1966, Jennifer Mills has gained a reputation for her incredible and disruptive watercolour works.
Exploring topics including identity, memory, childhood, disguise and disability, she often employs untraditional tactics with her works, including cutting out elements with scissors or disrupting images with oil pastels. Her starting place is often a found photograph.
Mills has shown her works at Sydney’s, Darren Knight Gallery regularly since 1997, steadily building her practice and adapting her methodology.
Mills’ work has been praised by fans and the art world alike. She’s currently a finalist for the Dobell Drawing Prize, she was a finalist in the Paul Guest Drawing Prize at Bendigo Art Gallery in 2024, and has been a regular finalist in the Geelong Art Prize, Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award, Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize, Jacaranda Art Prize and Mornington Peninsula National Works on Paper Prize.
In 2018, she took home the prestigious Splash: McClelland Contemporary Watercolour Award.
Lately, she’s been teaming up with her son Darcy Luker, inviting him to fill in the missing figures in her works. The result is a thought-provoking fusion of portraiture and abstract styles.
About Bunjil Place
An arts epicentre in Melbourne’s south eastern region, Bunjil Place is known for showing intriguing contemporary works and platforming local and Indigenous creatives.
Through music and theatre performances, arts exhibitions, workshops and special events, it has been bringing the community together since it opened in 2017. As well as the gallery, the facility also features a library, outdoor community plaza, theatre, multipurpose studio and function centre.
For more information and to visit Jennifer Mills: In the Echo Chamber at the Bunjil Place Gallery, head here.
This article was made in partnership with the Bunjil Place Gallery.
