Mike Brown, Smash US Imperialism, 1972. Acrylic on canvas, 121 x 121cm. Courtesy: the artist’s estate and Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne.

This exhibition consists of a selection of the small amount of Mike Brown’s work remaining with the family, alongside a variety of work from the gallery’s stock, from private vendors, and from the Nodrum family private collection. It’s a relatively small survey but does cover much of his divergent practice and is in line with his close to carefree attitude when it came to exhibiting; he was always happy to put everything up and see what happens. Whilst at one level Brown attracted serious curatorial commitment (he’s the only artist of his generation who has had two retrospectives at the NGV) he still doesn’t seem to engender the collector support he merits.

Brown had good relationships with many of the artists of his generation including Jon Balsaitis, Dale Hickey, Robert Hunter, Trevor Vickers, among others – in spite of the fact that their work bears little-to-no connection with his own. Vickers was probably his closest colleague and friend throughout and to present this exhibition in conjunction with a survey of Trevor’s – including two collaborative works – was a special opportunity and not to be missed.

Opening Event: Saturday 19 August, 3 – 5pm.

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