The abilityNEWS Daily
The Big Story
Thom Roberts with Burt the Oscar Train 2017 and cushion cover. [Photo: Rick Carter, Studio One Another]
‘I Do It Thom’s Way’: Artist’s Groundbreaking Exhibition Wins Hearts
Sydney-based Australian artist Thom Roberts has achieved something most creatives only ever dream of. He’s held his first solo exhibition, The Immersive World of Thom Roberts, at one of Australia’s most important national galleries.
Thom lives with an intellectual disability, so this achievement is significant not only for himself but also for other artists who live with disability. Australian audiences have been able to see his brilliant work on a grand scale.
It’s the first time an artist with an intellectual disability has held a solo exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra (NPG).
In the words of the artist himself, his work is ‘joyous’.
“It is my first time having all my work together in two big rooms. There are my old pictures and now they are next to my new pictures. Old and new together. I think visitors like how they feel in my exhibition. There are lots of feelings in there like happiness, frustrated, joy, worried and nervous,” he says.
“I think my exhibition will make people laugh, think, feel confused and shocked.”
His work features dynamic colours. In some instances, images of people, trains and buildings overlap. In other paintings, double sets of eyes feature along with piano teeth.
‘I do it Thom’s way,’ the artist explains.
The NPG praised the exhibition. A spokesperson for the NPG told abilityNEWS it was “warmly embraced by thousands of visitors of all ages. A joyous and significant exhibition, audiences noted how important it was to experience Thom’s incredible imagination and point of view.”
His exhibition got thousands of visits, great reviews, national attention, audience acclaim, and for the artist, a chance to share his unique style.
The exposure has raised Thom Roberts’ profile as an important Australian artist, boosted his self-belief and contributed to his earnings as an artist.
Editor’s Note
Australia’s biggest-selling newspapers, the News Limited tabloids, carried extensive reports of exploitation of NDIS by ‘unscrupulous’ operators over the weekend. Combined with the growing cost of the scheme, stories like this continue to erode support amongst the broader public.
Nic Stuart, editor
The Briefing
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The Diary
