To celebrate 100 years of public collecting at Manly Art Gallery & Museum, the Gallery commissioned contemporary Australian artist Jude Rae to create a work for the Collection. As a direct response, SL490 (with loud hailer) pays homage to an early surf lifesaving loudhailer from MAG&M’s museum objects collection. Two preparatory drawings accompany the commission.

Raised on the Northern Beaches, Jude Rae brings special significance to this commission, as MAG&M’s Collection continues to build on the rich artistic legacy of this region. The acquisition was made possible with funds provided by MAG&M Society, and private donors including Brian Hamer, Cyndi Jaques and Joanne Willcocks.

Jude Rae is primarily known for her still-life paintings, portraits, and architectural interiors. The low-key, non-narrative imagery she employs allows the attention to dwell on the formal and material aspects of representational painting, encouraging a more reflective and considered approach to the complexities of visual experience.

Jude Rae is a two-time winner of the Portia Geach Memorial Award for portraiture, a three-times Highly Commended finalist of the Archibald Prize, and the recipient of the prestigious Bulgari Art Award presented in partnership with the Art Gallery of NSW. In 2017, a survey of her work was held at the Australian National University Drill Hall Gallery.

After graduating in Fine Arts (History) at Sydney University, Jude Rae taught at City Art Institute (University of NSW) and in 1987 had her first solo show with Painters Gallery. At this time, she was also a founding member of the Ultimo Project Studios, an urban housing co-operative for artists in Sydney. In 1989 she moved to London and later to New Zealand where she was the first Director of South Island Art Projects, which today exists as the Physics Room, Christchurch, NZ.

Over the last forty years Jude Rae has exhibited her work in Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the USA. She has been awarded residencies in France, Italy and New Zealand, and has taught at a variety of art schools including Auckland University, the Australian National University and most recently at the National Art School, Sydney.

Read some reflections from MAG&M's commissioned artist, Jude Rae here. 

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