Ken Done
Since his first solo exhibition in 1980, Ken Done has become one of Australia’s most famous artists. His work has been described as the most original style to come out of Australia, and his paintings are in collections throughout the world. He has held over 100 one-man shows, including major exhibitions in Australia, Europe, Japan and the USA, and his works have been shown in the Archibald, Sulman, Wynne, Blake, and Dobell Prizes.
Major projects in a very diverse career include the painting of a BMW Artcar, and the total decorative scheme for the Garden Restaurant at the Powerhouse Museum, in Sydney. In 2002 the Museum acquired his commercial art and design archive of more than 300 items. Tokyo fashion and lifestyle magazine Hanako featured a Ken Done painting on the cover every week for over 15 years, and in 1999 Done was asked to create a series of works for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies programs of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Ken has been a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF since 1988, and received the Order of Australia (A.M.), for services to Art, Design and Tourism in 1992. In many parts of the world, Ken Done has come to symbolise Australia and Australians: creative, optimistic and bold.