Gippsland Art Gallery to host blockbuster Annemieke Mein exhibition

The life and work of acclaimed textile artist Annemieke Mein OAM will be showcased as part of a once-in-a-lifetime blockbuster exhibition held at the Gippsland Art Gallery in Sale, Victoria.

The Gippsland Art Gallery will present Annemieke Mein: ‘A Life's Work’ from 2 March to 26 May 2024. The exhibition will coincide with Annemieke's 80th birthday and will be the most extensive display of her work to date - drawing crowds from across the country.

A Life's Work will honour the beloved textile artist, known for inspiring and captivating audiences for many years. Bringing together over 200 original pieces from both public and private collections, some of which have never been displayed before, the retrospective will cover Annemieke Mein's entire artistic journey. Spanning six decades, the exhibition will take up all five gallery spaces, showcasing her major wildlife-themed works and even recreating her art studio within the gallery.

The exhibition will highlight Mein's evolution from her early textile experiments in the 1960s to the groundbreaking masterpieces of the 1980s that earned her international recognition. Visitors can expect to see a wide range of her art, including sculptures, drawings, sketches, and bas-relief bronzes, alongside her famous wall-based relief textiles, where objects seem to pop out from the canvas.

A Life's Work will coincide with the release of a new book about Annemieke Mein, the first one since 1992. The book, titled 'A Life's Work,' will offer a comprehensive overview of her art, featuring contributions from sixteen writers exploring various aspects of her life and career.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor, Cr Ian Bye shared his excitement for the blockbuster exhibition, the first since the popular Archibald Prize landed at the Gippsland Art Gallery in 2021.

“Annemieke’s strong ties to Gippsland make her achievements particularly meaningful to our local audiences and I can assure you that the exhibition will be an amazing experience for all ages.

"I can’t wait to see Annemieke’s exhibition and encourage everyone to start spreading the word, bring along your family, friends and visitors from out of town. It’s an exhibition not to be missed”. Cr Bye said.

Tickets for the blockbuster exhibition are available to purchase at gippslandartgallery.com, noting that visitors are not required to pre-book, and will be able to purchase tickets from Gallery Reception (70 Foster Street in Sale) on the day of their visit.

Merchandise and copies of Annemieke’s book will also be available for purchase during the exhibition.

Tickets to the Annemieke Mein “A Life’s Work” at the Gippsland Art Gallery are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $16 for concession card holders and $12 for Friends of the Gallery, children under 12 are free. Wellington Shire residents receive half price on all tickets (with proof of residency required).