Stephen Bowers and Mark Thompson discuss their artworks – on show until 7 December 2024

Watch videos of artists Stephen Bowers and Mark Thompson as they discuss the artworks in their current exhibitions of new ceramic work. Learn about the ornithological inspirations for the birds on Stephen’s ornate plates and how Mark has several pieces on the go at once and what drives him to keep creating. Ceramics by nature includes an element that is totally out of the artist’s control, as every time a piece enters the kiln there is an unknown factor. The artist has to be patient through the process, allowing the kiln to cool enough before seeing if everything has turned out as planned.

See our website to view the videos, preview the artworks in the exhibition and download the illustrated catalogues with essays by Leslie Ferrin and John Neylon. A video of the opening with remarks by Dr Damon Moon, prolific writer on ceramics, as well as a ceramicist himself, is also available to view.

Helen Tiernan at Artspace Box Hill

TIERNAN, Woi Wurrung Ancient Bark Canoe, 222058, 40x30cm - NBP_R copy
HELEN TIERNAN Woi Wurrung Ancient Bark Canoe oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm

Visit the Connections exhibition to view Helen Tiernan’s fascinating paintings.

Tiernan’s landscapes blend elements from European and Indigenous artistic traditions, signifying the rich tapestry of her mixed cultural connections. They invite viewers to contemplate the interconnectedness of humanity and nature and are displayed alongside artworks by First Nations artists from the Whitehorse art collection.

Connections showing at Artspace Box Hill until 12 August.

View further works by Helen Tiernan on our website or Contact us for details about new works to the Gallery.

Helen Tiernan Colonial Cattle series #3 2023 oil on canvas 66 x 45.5 cm (oval)

Vale Nevin Hurst

We pay tribute to art dealer, Nevin Hurst who died on Tuesday 11 April, surrounded by family. Based in his Masterpiece gallery in Hobart, his expansive knowledge of Australian art, especially that of the colonial era, will be sorely missed. We at Lauraine Diggins Fine Art especially enjoyed a genuine friendship and fruitful working relationship, benefitting from his expertise and cheered by his jolly nature. Nevin deservedly had a reputation as story-teller, and published two books, My Masterpieces highlighting a number of significant paintings he handled as an art dealer, and his memoir, From Rabbit Traps to Rembrandts. Despite retiring a few years ago, Nevin continued his art dealing as his passionate interest, sourcing, researching and placing artworks with clients. Our thoughts are with his wife Rose and family and with Mastepiece staff past and present, especially Arzina and Zac.

International Women’s Day 2023 #EmbraceEquity

On International Women’s Day we celebrate by sharing some of our favourite artworks by women artists who led the way by challenging traditions, exploring new ideas and influencing the direction of Australian art​.​​

This years theme is #EmbraceEquity.

​I​n the current global climate of shifting attitudes towards gender biases, the celebration and recognition of women artists is growing around the world. Such​ ​interest and support of women artists is not a new phenomenon, tending to follow the ebbs and flows parallel with general cultural trends.

Australian female artists have been integral to our artistic culture throughout history, with women students at art school, including a significant number of Australian artists studying in Europe; women artists represented in national and international art exhibitions, competitions and prizes; women as active members of art societies; teaching art students; reproduced​ ​in art publications; working as professional artists, including commissioned positions such as Official War Artist; and collected by major institutions as well as private collectors.

TIERNAN, As above so Below with Songlines, 222054, 150x90cm Jessie Scarvell Glenalvon Murrurundi 1895 COULTER, DI - Cousin Elizabeth NT STOKES Girl in Fur Collar, London Emily Kngwarray Women's Dreaming

Three Exhibitions at LDFA

Robert Clinch: Life on Earth

Murray Griffin: Earth and Beyond

Horace Trenerry: Painting the Earth

Three concurrent solo shows by artists we believe deserve greater recognition for their contribution to the Australian Art story. Contemporary Melbourne artist Robert Clinch and his urban capriccios which are based on real places, allowing a sense of recognition and familiarity to the viewer. Robert adapts the elements to suit the message he seeks to present, making comment on universal aspects of humanity and life on earth. Murray Griffin (1903 – 1992) is admired for his lithographs of birds, but less well known for his paintings of landscapes and the spiritual influence on his work, culminating in The Journey series. Horace Trenerry (1899 – 1958) has been described as the Monet of South Australia. Little known outside his home state, his focus on the Australian landscape captures observed details, light and atmosphere.

Preview the artworks on our website and download the e-catalogues linked below to learn more about each of these underrated artists.

Robert ClinchPreview on our website or click on catalogue image to download
Murray GriffinPreview on our website or click on catalogue image to download
Horace TrenerryPreview on our website or click on catalogue image to download.

AAADA Sydney Art Fair 2022

The Australian Antique & Art Dealers Association is excited to be back in Sydney. Following a successful art fair in Malvern, the AAADA Art Fair, Sydney is showing at the White Bay Cruise Terminal from 15 – 18 September with a number of member participants showing fine art; jewellery; furniture and more.

Lauraine Diggins Fine Art is looking forward to connecting with our Sydney clientele and visitors and is showing a selection of Australian painting, works on paper and decorative arts including works by George Baldessin; Rupert Bunny; Stephen Bowers; Robert Clinch; Charles Conder; Bessie Davidson; John Dent; Robert Dickerson; Ethel Carrick Fox; James Gleeson; Sydney Long; John Ford Paterson; John Perceval; Jane Price; Gloria Petyarr; Iso Rae; Elizabeth (Lilla) Reidy; Henry Rielly; Helen Tiernan; Constance Stokes; Fred Williams; Brett Whiteley; Zhou Xiaoping.

We have a limited number of complimentary tickets so please contact us if you are interested in securing yours.

Position Vacant

ASSISTANT GALLERY MANAGER

POSITION AVAILABLE
This position is one within a very small team, comprising two Gallery Directors and a Gallery Manager. It is important for the person in this role to have the initiative, energy, ability and commitment to cover a broad array of tasks as and when required, to be responsible for them and to work in an often unsupervised environment. Often duties cross over and supports all roles.

ABOUT US
Lauraine Diggins Fine Art specialises in Australian colonial, impressionist, modern, contemporary and Australian Aboriginal painting, sculpture and decorative arts. Sourcing major European masterworks upon request.

The Gallery, discreetly located in North Caulfield, has built strong working relationships with private, corporate and institutional collectors and has been responsible for the placement of many significant artworks into public & private collections.

The Gallery works directly with clients to specifically source artworks for private or public collections; or to place artworks with us for sale. The Gallery also shows select exhibitions throughout the year and occasionally participates in art fairs. We manage in-house artwork and exhibition installation, curation, research, artwork packaging, promotion/marketing, media, photography, video production, design, stock management, website management, database management and all in the company of the Gallery dog, Roxy the Kelpie.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR

  • A proactive self-motivated person to support the delivery of exhibitions and day-to-day operation of the Gallery
  • Demonstrated experience working in the arts industry or similar environment
  • Demonstrable high level IT skills using Apple Mac platform
  • Administrative experience with demonstrated interpersonal, written, oral communication and organisational skills
  • The ability to work both independently and as a part of a small team
  • Ability to work in an environment with competing priorities
  • A passion for people, arts and events
  • Do you have a background in any of the following: marketing, accounting, curatorship, catalogue production or other??

WHAT WE CAN OFFER
As an employee of the Lauraine Diggins Fine Art you will be part of an inclusive culture. This role is permanent part-time, days of the week are negotiable. Evening or weekend exhibition openings will occasionally be requested. 

HOW TO APPLY
If you have the skills, abilities and attitude to take on this position please enquire here. If you require further information please also email us by clicking here.

Gallery hours 10am-6pm, Tuesday-Friday.
W: www.diggins.com.au
FB: LauraineDigginsFineArt
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LI: Lauraine Diggins OAM 
LI: lauraine-diggins-fine-art-gallery

The Melbourne Fair

Come and visit us this weekend at The Melbourne Fair showing at the Caulfield Racecourse – Friday 25/Saturday 26 March 10am – 6pm and Sunday 27 10am – 5pm. We are showing a range of Australian painting, drawings and decorative arts including a large colonial painting by Henry Reilly; an atmospheric landscape by Australian Impressionist Jessie Scarvell; a striking Still Life paintings by Roy de Maistre and Bessie Davidson; artworks by Sidney Nolan; Albert Tucker; John Perceval, Clif Pugh; Brett Whiteley; a new work by Zhou Xiaoping; ceramic work by Stephen Bowers and a selection of indigenous paintings from Utopia including an impressive diptych by Angelina Ngal, whose forthcoming exhibition opens 6th April at the Gallery. We also are showing a few drawings by Constance Stokes in conjunction with our exhibition which concludes 31 March.

Rover Thomas at National Museum of Australia

A masterwork by the iconic Kimberley artist Rover Thomas has been donated to the National Museum of Australia in honour of Lauraine Diggins OAM. The large-scale painting Jabanunga depicts the Rainbow Serpent penetrating the earth following a subterranean journey in the wake of Cyclone Tracey’s destruction of Darwin.

Lauraine was a strong supporter of Indigenous art on the international stage. “During her lifetime Lauraine was determined to do whatever she could and use her considerable influence to ensure that many of the important art works created in Australia and overseas became part of the national Estate”, says Michael Blanche, Lauraine’s husband and Director of Lauraine Diggins Fine Art and an advocate for philanthropy. Michael, along with co-Director, daughter Nerida Blanche, intend on donating a series of artworks in memory of Lauraine.

Read media coverage about this important painting below:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-25/act-indigenous-artwork-gifted-to-national-museum-of-australia/100859146

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7633241/national-museum-acquires-12-million-rover-thomas-work/

https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/a-national-cultural-plan-can-help-anchor-our-identity-but-no-one-is-listening-20220223-p59z12.html

MARIAN ELLIS ROWAN – Blue Flowers

MARIAN ELLIS ROWAN exhibition continues through September.

Marian Ellis Rowan (1848 – 1922) was a remarkable woman, who blurred the lines between fine art and natural history illustration with artworks characterised not only by their detailed accuracy but also her own compositional charm and touches of dramatic interest, such as the inclusion of insects, adding more life, narrative interest and sense of scale.

This artwork (Blue Flowers, possibly Scaevola Basedowii) is indicative of her passion for depicting the flora of Western Australia, where she visited in 1880 and again in 1906. Scaevola derive from the hot and arid outback and is also known as the fan flower due to its petals. Ellis Rowan tended to use coloured paper for her artworks and this more centrally placed display of the spidery network of branches juxtaposed with the delicate small blue flowers, suggests it is from earlier in her career, coinciding with her visits to WA.

This celebrated and prolific artist with her reputation for painting wildflowers is represented in many public collections including significant holdings at:

Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
National Herbarium, Melbourne
National Gallery of Australia
National Gallery of Victoria
National Library of Australia
National Trust of Australia
Queensland Museum
Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art
Royal Botanic Gardens, Adelaide

With thanks to the staff at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne for expert advice regarding identification.

Read further here

(Blue Flowers, possibly Scaevola Basedowii)
gouache on paper, 53 x 36 cm