On view: 24 July to 5 September 2004

Brett Whiteley's Studio opens to the public after structural repairs with an exhibition of key Whiteley works. The reopening will be celebrated with free entry to the Studio over the opening weekend - Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 July.

The opening exhibition includes a selection of major works from favourite themes in Whiteley's famous career. These include images of the artist's muse as nude model in the studio and in the bath; his evocative landscapes which are both metaphoric and sublime; and of course his iconographic panoramas of Sydney Harbour.

Over the last three months the Studio has been closed for general repairs and the 20 year old tin roof has been replaced. In 1993 the Raper Street Studio was purchased by the State Government along with ten major Whiteley works. It was transformed into the Brett Whiteley Studio museum and managed by the Art Gallery of NSW, opening to the public in 1995.

Brett Whiteley bought the premises in 1985 when it had been operating as a t-shirt factory and in a state of disrepair. Under his direction the building was fitted-out with a white walled gallery space downstairs and a painting studio with living quarters upstairs. He lived and worked there after he returned from overseas in 1988. After his death, at the age of 53, in 1992, his daughter Arkie lived in the space for a while until the decision to turn it into a museum.

Very few changes have been made to the building since Whiteley was in residence. The furniture, lighting, collections of memorabilia, postcards, photographs, objects etc are all as he arranged them. The music that is played at the Studio during opening hours is from Brett's collection.

Works include:

Blue Naked Studio 1981
(Diptych) oil, collage, hair, glass eye, charcoal and ink on board 190.9 x 490.4 cm
Collection Brett Whiteley Studio

Big Orange (sunset) 1974
oil and collage on wood 244.0 x 305.0cm board; 246.0 x 307.2 x 4.8cm frame
Gift of Patrick White 1974 Collection Art Gallery of New South Wales

To Yirrawalla 1972
oil and mixed media on board 185.3 x 166.3 x 6.3cm
Purchased by the New South Wales State Government 1994, transferred to the Gallery 1998 Collection Art Gallery of New South Wales

Lavender Bay In the Rain 1981
oil, PVA and perspex on canvas on board 89.5 x 89 cm
Collection Brett Whiteley Studio

Night Café 1972
oil on board
122.7 x 144.5cm board; 131.3 x 153.0 x 8.3cm frame
Purchased by the New South Wales State Government 1994, transferred to the Gallery 1998 Collection Art Gallery of New South Wales

Exhibition talk at 2pm by Studio Educator Jenny Hall