Penrith Regional Gallery announced this week an exciting new exhibition, Blak Douglas: The Halfway Line, will open March 15.
Co-curated by Djon Mundine OAM and Penrith Regional Gallery director Toby Chapman, the exhibition focuses on the past 30 years of the artist's practice and his longstanding connection to Penrith.
Featuring more than 30 major works in varied mediums from collections around Australia - which reflect on his career from 1998 to the present - the exhibition reflects both a personal and artistic journey for the artist.
The Halfway Line refers to the point Blak Douglas now finds himself in his life and practice.
In 2022 Douglas won Australia's most famous art award, the Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW, with his portrait of fellow artist and Wiradjuri woman Karla Dickens in flood waters on Bundjalung Country.
"Even after you win, you don't want to be seen as a one-hit wonder," Douglas told Djon Mundine.
This moment marked a turning point, as Douglas began working on a change of direction in his practice, still unfolding and in progress. This significant exhibition shows works from major collections including the Art Gallery of NSW and the National Gallery of Australia. A confirmation of his position and stance in the Australian contemporary art world, it brought recognition and rewards but also creative pressure.
URan I am We Are A Failing Land, 2008. (Image: supplied)
As well as presenting major paintings from each stage of his career, The Halfway Line celebrates the urgency of Douglas's practice, with ideas expressed through painting, but also sculpture, installations, photography and original poster designs stretching back to his time at the University of Western Sydney.
Featuring his work across various mediums, the exhibition showcases his artistic skills and storytelling abilities.
The Halfway Line also refers to Douglas's lived experience, the social and cultural lines that he was told could not be crossed, but that he has nonetheless. The exhibition creates a 'map' of these pivotal moments as well as the geographic references that informed much of his early work.
Having spent his formative years in Bungarrabee (Blacktown), the talented artist later attended High School, TAFE and University in Penrith, then discovered the urban artistic community in Sydney's inner city including Redfern, with his current studio now in Rylstone on Dabee (Wiradjuri) Country, across the Blue Mountains. The river Dyarubbin (Nepean) flows along the mid-point across which he repeatedly travels and returns to.
Chapman said The Halfway Line is more than just an exhibition but a space of celebration and reflection.
"The Halfway Line is a space of celebration and reflection, recognising Douglas as a seminal figure in the development of contemporary First Nations art in Australia. Equally, it's an opportunity for the artist to reflect on his own trajectory, sharing moments of insight and vulnerability," he said.
Man on the Goon, 2018 synthetic polymer paint on canvas 150 x 200 cm. (Image: supplied)
As Penrith Regional Gallery director, Chapman's focus is to work with leading contemporary artists who share an interest in local community and contexts.
Penrith has had a significant impact on Douglas' early practice, having studied graphic design at Nepean TAFE before taking up the brush and canvas. Since his first exhibition in the industrial estates of Penrith, Douglas has been recognised for his bold, expressive style and incisive wit, often providing commentary on the social issues of the day.
Known as an advocate and activist, using his practice and visibility to champion social justice and recognition of the inequality experienced by Aboriginal people in Australia - both historically and today - Douglas is celebrated for his impact and advocacy beyond just the art world.
Having won the Mil-Pra Award 2004, Kilgour Prize 2019, STILL Award 2020 and Archibald Prize 2022, and has exhibited extensively including at the 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial: Defying Empire, National Gallery of Australia; TARNANTHI Festival, Adelaide; and AAMU, Netherlands, Douglas has continued to engage and educate audiences with meaningful works across several artistic mediums.
The Belle & The Bunyip, 1998. (Image: supplied)
Blak Douglas: The Halfway Line Exhibition: Saturday 15 March – 20 July 2025 Exhibition Opening Night: Saturday 22 March 2025, 5-8pm at Penrith Regional Gallery.
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