Ken Done – Australian Artist

This is film that celebrates the arts, but also asks some important questions about the appreciation and business of art. It took five decades for Ken’s work to be acquired by a state gallery, despite phenomenal commercial and often critical success. Most artists dream of being able to sustain themselves and their family financially. It’s a rare feat, still. Ken succeeded, but didn’t play by the rules, opening his own gallery rather than being represented by an ‘in crowd’ gallery owner. And Ken’s work was optimistic – not born from pain or trauma. That and commercial success didn’t seem to play well with the art elite. So, with the AGNSW’s acquisition of Ken’s seminal painting ‘Sunday’ the question arises ‘who decides what art is?’ What is worthy of national and state collections? In today’s Instagram world in which more and more young professionals have to become ‘brands’ to succeed, Ken is seen as a trailblazer. But has the art world caught up?

We want young artists to take heart and show them that following your own path can be rewarding and successful.
We want to challenge the still prevailing notion that all great art is born from pain, suffering and trauma – and demonstrate that optimism, beauty and celebration are neither shallow, narcissistic nor meaningless.
We want to challenge the notion that commercial success equals selling out.
We want to cement Ken’s legacy as one of the country’s most consequential artists, a chronicler of how we see ourselves and how others see us too.

See the impact vision

We have been working with Ken and his team for several months.

Create!