Splashes of vivid colour and scenes of exotic, far-off lands lit up Wollongong Art Gallery on Friday night, with the unveiling of a retrospective exhibit on local artist Robert Liddicoat.
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Mr Liddicoat, a respected painter and art teacher, passed away in May 2013.
His wife, Robyn, has been influential in organising for Mr Liddicoat's 60-year career to be remembered and celebrated in a showing titled simply An Artist and his Colours.
"He was painting all the time. The exhibit shows our lives, the places we lived and visited," Mrs Liddicoat said.
Etchings, oil paint and eye-popping watercolours trace Mr Liddicoat's career and life through trips in Korea, Hong Kong, the Middle East, through Europe and Australia, from the Northern Territory outback to the Illawarra. Self-portraits also show the artist from a young man into his later days.
"You can see how his style changed, and how he got older," Mrs Liddicoat said.
More than 35 pieces adorn the Community Access Gallery, ranging from 1962 to shortly before his passing.
"Robert had a significant influence on the artistic community in this area for a long time, as a teacher, a colleague and, of course, as an artist," said gallery director John Monteleone.
"He was a very generous spirit, and came into contact with a lot of artists, and we thought this was a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate his life."
The exhibition runs until May 4 at Wollongong Art Gallery.