BEAUTIFUL THINGS – On show now

18 January 2024

Nanda\Hobbs is proud to present our Summer Exhibition, and the first show of 2024, “Beautiful Things”. Far from conventional, this exhibition is testament to the nuanced complexities inherent in the diverse voices of contemporary art. The titular concept challenges viewers to perceive beauty not as a static construct, but as a dynamic, ever-evolving dialogue between artist and subject.

Here, the provocative strokes of Adam Cullen converse with the meditative softness of Hubert Pareroultja’s landscapes. Jun Chen’s energetic flora engages in visual discourse with Suzanne Archer’s environmental reflections, diverging from what we might immediately consider “beautiful”. James Powditch’s use of recycled materials, rusted from age and use, calls into question aesthetic standards of beauty. The works, expertly selected, weave together disparate threads of style, medium, and intention—an inquiry into the ways artists navigate and subvert established notions of beauty.

“Beautiful Things” is an homage to the perpetual quest for meaning and aesthetic significance in art. This is not a proclamation of absolute truths, but an invitation to join an ongoing discourse where beauty emerges as a subjective negotiation between artist and observer. Patrons are not merely spectators but active contributors to the age-old questions: How do we define what is beautiful? How does the artist challenge beauty as an aesthetic discipline?

Carefully selected secondary market and blue-chip works establish a fluid narrative, bridging the traditional and the contemporary. We are encouraged not just to witness, but to unravel the intricate threads that connect us to these beautiful things, in a way that is both complex and unapologetic. 

Anthea Mentzalis
January, 2024

Exhibiting Artists:

Rick AMOR, Suzanne ARCHER, Nicholas BLOWERS, Peter BOOTH, Jun CHEN, Adam CULLEN, James DRINKWATER, Dianne GALL, Katherine HATTAM, Aaron KINNANE, Sam LEACH, Robert MALHERBE, Lin ONUS, Hubert PAREROULTJA, James POWDITCH, Bill Whiskey TJAPALTJARRI

VIEW FULL CATALOGUE

News

Loribelle Spirovski wins 2025 Archibald Prize ANZ People's Choice Award

31 July 2025

Sydney-based artist Loribelle Spirovski has been awarded the 2025 Archibald Prize ANZ People's Choice Award for her powerful portrait of musician and composer William Barton.

Read more
News

2025 Gosford Art Prize finalists: Stephanie Eather and Braddon Snape

29 July 2025

Congratulations to Stephanie Eather and Braddon Snape for their selection in the Gosford Art Prize, a $25,000 acquisitive award presented at the Gosford Regional Gallery. The announcement follows closely on the heels of Snape’s recent announcement as a finalist in the 2025 Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award. 

Read more
News

Art Wank's latest episode features James Drinkwater

29 July 2025

James Drinkwater talks about painting, sculpture and his peotic way of seeing the world. A must-listen!

 

Read more
12 - 14 Meagher Street Chippendale, NSW 2008
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm Saturday, 11am - 4pm Easter 2025: The gallery will closed from 18 - 21 April Closed Public Holidays (and Easter Saturday)