BORN ON THE STREET

12 Apr 2017 Benalla Ensign, Benalla VIC (Supplements) The concept of street art as an art form has been controversial with many labelling it as graffiti. Not so for Melbourne couple Sandra Powell and Andrew King who had been collecting works from some of Australias finest artists such as Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker, Joy Hester and Brett Whitely since the 1980s. Then in 2008 on a trip to London, they learned of the infamous street artist, Bansky, the anonymous satirical street artist. There began a passion for the mystery of street art. In the celebrity tradition of the time with couples going under a joined name such as Brangelina, the couple took on the facetious nickname of Sandrew and started their globally recognised collection of Australian street art, which now stands at more than 2000 works. Their exhibition Born on the Street currently on display at the Benalla Art Gallery is of works from two of Australias greatest street artists, Rone who grew up in rural Victoria and paints large scale portraits of womens faces, and Adnate who grew up in Melbourne and paints powerfully insightful and passionate portraits, often of Indigenous Australians. Caption Text: Opening Born on the Street, Benalla born Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes Adnates recurring theme of Indigenous Australians. And the crowds gathered at the gallery Plenty of unicorn power in Kaff-eines mural. Anton Pulverenti on the corner wall of Bertallis bakery. Columbian artist Julian Clavijo at work. Local artist, Cristen Brunners striking image. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.