Paintings by one of Logan’s most celebrated artists have returned home for an exhibition at Logan Art Gallery.
Woodridge-based artist Jun Chen has had nine paintings displayed in Australia’s most prestigious exhibition, the Archibald Prize Exhibition, between 2006 and 2021.
He was runner-up in the 2017 competition for his portrait of the late Australian art dealer Ray Hughes.
His other Archibald entries include Mao’s Last Dancer and retired artistic director of Queensland Ballet Li Cunxin, art collector and former teacher Judith Bell, and former University of New South Wales Chancellor and paediatric doctor, John Yu.
These paintings will feature in an exhibition at Logan Art Gallery until Saturday 20 January.
The exhibition will also feature two of Mr Chen’s works from the Salon des Refusés exhibition held each year at Sydney’s SH Ervin Gallery.
He will also exhibit many works he entered for the Archibald Prize that weren’t selected for display, including portrait of the local artist Ian Smith, which Mr Chen is donating to the Logan Art Collection.
Mr Chen was born in China in 1960 and migrated to Australia in 1990.
He trained in painting at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and later the Queensland University of Technology.
In China, he was a brush and ink painter, but he reinvented himself in Australia as an oil painter.
Lifestyle Chair Councillor Tony Hall said the exhibition provided an opportunity to see Mr Chen’s complete Archibald catalogue.
“People will be able to see for themselves the talent which has regularly caught the eye of the Archibald Prize judges,” Cr Hall said.
“It will be a great way to finish off the year and launch 2024 and I encourage the community to schedule a visit to not only see Jun’s work, but also catch the three other exhibitions on display.”
These exhibitions include:
• Remnants of the past by Kate Douglas featuring paintings that highlight historical buildings such as Mayes Cottage House Museum, Beenleigh Historical Village and Museum and The Workshops Rail Museum.
• Paint on! by Marsden artist Robert Burgess. After teaching art and exhibiting throughout Australia and overseas, this will be Robert’s first exhibition of abstract paintings at the gallery.
• A coral community by Wunderpeach. Sculptor Nadine Schmoll and animator Tessie Liddell have created an interactive installation of an underwater world by combining sculpture and animation with art and science elements to highlight the marine environment.
The gallery, on the corner of Jacaranda Ave and Wembley Rd, Logan Central, is open Tuesday to Saturday (10am to 5pm).
Entry is free.
