About

Brisbane-born painter and draftsman Lloyd Rees (1895–1988) is one of Australia's most recognised and awarded landscape artists. He twice received the Wynne Prize (in 1950 and 1982) for his work, which often focused on the effects of light in its varying forms.

The touring exhibition 'Lloyd Rees: Life and Light' explores the Gallery's holdings of this significant artist's work. It also includes a number of early drawings made in Brisbane in the first decades of the twentieth century, selected from works generously gifted by Alan and Jan Rees, the son and daughter-in-law of the artist.

Honouring the important connection between Lloyd Rees and Queensland, especially regarding his early development as a draftsman and artist, the exhibition explores the range of his artistic achievements throughout his long career. Moving from Brisbane to Sydney in 1917, Rees also made several visits to Europe, where he was influenced by JMW Turner's works, in particular, and created a series of oils en plein air (outdoors) that show his increasing preoccupation with the properties of light.

The exhibition surveys the varied subjects that inspired Lloyd Rees's work, including architecture, interiors, landscapes, figures and self-portraits.