Celebrating the region’s birdlife
OPENING NIGHT: Friday 9 October 6pm
An all-new exhibition by one of our favourite artists. Rob’s exhibited works often sell out so get in quick to see these.
For the Birds is a series of lifelike paintings that celebrates our region’s beautiful, engaging yet vulnerable birdlife.
Australia has its share of the most watchable. Their plumage and displays can be spectacular; they have unique voices that we love to hear, vocalisations that amaze and intrigue, behaviours that engage us.
Celebrating their uniqueness paves the way for us to enjoy sharing the world with them.
About Rob Allen
Brisbane born (1955–), Rob studied design at the Queensland Institute of Technology. After a career as an exhibition designer and illustrator at the Queensland Museum, Rob left to pursue his goal of making art. He also volunteers at the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery.
Artist Statement
An exhibition about the region’s birdlife has long hovered in the back of my mind.
I thought that representing species found in this part of the country would provide the cohesion a show requires. I don’t claim to be an expert so how would I go about choosing them? Fortunately, allies in the birding world helped with suggestions. In the end, I went with what I could find and the species I found most compelling.
To begin with, my aim was to show them all at life-size. This proved more of a challenge than I anticipated. How would I scale my birds accurately yet create a composition that was manageable—we have some very large birds! I decided to relax: my paintings became ‘near-to life-size’ and, in the end, whatever felt right and achievable.
Some of these works I have executed in almost academic style—my background in scientific illustration insists on accuracy—but some include intuitive mark-making and colour choices; improvisations on my foundations. All began with at least an attempt at observation and a photographic record. Each suggested its unique pathway to completion.
I aimed to paint only species I had seen in real-life; there are rare ones I might never see. For these, I am grateful for published images. Any errors I have made in translation are mine.
I wanted to make this an exhibition that was not just about our birds and their habitats, but also about my art practice. That meant a focus not just on finished works but also on my processes. And so, I am including some of the drawings I made as I developed compositions. I hope visitors find these interesting.
Finally, how would I produce enough works to a standard that would satisfy me, in two years? Only one answer to that: slog away and see where I get to!
Rob Allen Oct’26