Renowned artist holds exhibition at USQ

The Toowoomba community will have access to art usually reserved for galleries in New York and Europe, when world renowned artist Julian Dashper puts some of his pieces on display at the USQ Art Gallery starting tomorrow (Thursday 3 May 2007).

Mr Dashper has contributed two items to the 1 + 1 exhibition, which will also feature art from USQ Lecturer Dr Kyle Jenkins.

'Julian and I both have two works each in the 1 + 1 exhibition, which is something that Simon Mee (USQ Associate Lecturer and Curator) developed that involves one USQ artist and a special guest that they invite,' Dr Jenkins said.

'I have known Julian for 10 years now and we have done stuff together in the past.'

Although the USQ Art Gallery has displayed some quality pieces previously, Mr Mee said that getting an artist like Mr Dashper was rare.

'Julian is a New Zealand artist and has a very large international presence,' he said.

'Normally the USQ Art Gallery would not be able to afford someone of Julian's status, for example we have one of his stripped down canvases here that is worth $20,000.'

With his art previously on display at galleries across Europe and the United States, Toowoomba art lovers are sure to be in for a treat.

'Artists work in a friendship basis and for the past 20 years Julian has travelled around doing one show at a time and he has built up friendships throughout Europe,' Dr Jenkins said.

'He has also now cracked the commercial market in America.'

The exhibition is the latest in a series of displays designed to further enhance the reputation of the USQ Art Gallery.

'We are trying to up the anti for the gallery and we can do that here because we show works that others might feel are too risky,' Mr Mee said.

'This is a way in which we can also give something to the community.'

Mr Dashper will be available for media interviews and photos at the USQ Art Gallery at 12pm tomorrow.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628