Ben Quilty: Painting with purpose

Australian artist Ben Quilty’s paintings from life remind us that death is never far from our door, writes Lisa Slade, curator of a major survey exhibition of his work soon to open at the Art Gallery of SA as part of the Adelaide Festival.

The Herd to open Art Gallery's Quilty exhibition

Performing in Adelaide for the first time in six years, Sydney-based hip hop group The Herd will officially open the Art Gallery of SA’s Ben Quilty exhibition with a gig on the gallery forecourt on March 1.

Dresses for Soulaf - Ben Quilty's installation in Sappers & Shrapnel at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Photo: Paul Steed

The art of war is both haunting and hopeful

“An extraordinary quilt of terror and strangeness” is how writer Richard Flanagan describes Ben Quilty’s artwork made from life jackets worn by desperate Syrian asylum seekers seeking refuge in Europe.