Telly Tu’u, Clarity, 2023. Oil on linen, 122 x 122cm. Courtesy: the artist and James Makin Gallery, Melbourne.

Telly Tu’u is a Sydney-based artist, born in Wellington New Zealand. Culture is a seminal part of the artist’s practice, drawn from his Samoan, Chinese, Tokelau and Tuvalu heritage. His atmospheric abstract works call upon references including the Samoan Pe’a (tattoo) or Tapa cloth, which comprise patterns abstracted from nature. Tu’u’s paintings are celebrated for their gestural marks and washes, which build captivating movement and continuity upon the canvas.

Opening Event: Saturday 4 November, 2 – 4pm.

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