Kim Nelson (1958–2015) was a celebrated Australian symbolist artist known for his spiritually evocative works and diverse creative journey.

 

Born in Kiama, New South Wales, Kim grew up in a farming family and was related to renowned landscape painter Leonard Long OAM. His artistic talent emerged early, and at age 17, he studied life drawing at the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney—his only formal art training.

Before fully committing to fine art, Kim worked in graphic design, advertising, and music, and later served as a manager/curator for historic properties under the National Trust of Australia. His curatorial excellence earned him multiple awards in heritage and tourism.

In 1996, Kim transitioned to a full-time fine art career, subsequently staging exhibitions across Australian states, including NSW, VIC, WA, ACT and TAS.

His work was exhibited internationally and is held in prestigious collections such as the Australian High Commission in London and News Limited in New York. Kim’s exhibitions were opened by prominent figures including Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, the Hon. Barry O’Keefe QCAM and financier Rene Rivkin.

Kim completed commissioned art for the National Trust of Australia, Pan MacMillan Publishing, the ACT Supreme Court and international media magnate Rupert Murdoch. 

Beyond his artistic achievements, Kim was deeply committed to philanthropy, donating art to organisations such as UNICEF Australia, Rotary International, the NSW Volunteer Bushfire Brigade, AMACC (Afghan Mother & Child Care), Koomarri Canberra, The Smith Family and CanAssist.

He lived and worked in the foothills of the Brindabella mountain range, near the Australian national capital, Canberra. From 2010 - 2014 he directed the Kim Nelson Fine Art & Editions Gallery located in a historic Oddfellows’ Hall in the heart of Yass.

 

Kim founded the regional arts initiative YASSarts which seeks to promote the arts and culture of the Yass Valley region.
In 2013 Kim was named Yass Valley 'Citizen of the Year' in the Australia Day honours for his work in the community and specifically for his services to the arts. Kim was also posthumously awarded the NSW Premier’s Award.

His paintings delved into spirituality, mythology, and human emotion, often evoking a sense of timelessness. Kim’s work explores spiritual and metaphysical themes through a blend of classical and abstract styles. His art often features recurring motifs like the Red Shawl, which adds layers of mystery and symbolism to his compositions. Drawing inspiration from the great works of the past, Kim said: "I seek not to emulate the styles and techniques of the past, but to reinterpret and develop them in the present and for the future."

 

EXHIBITIONS - SOLO​

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• 1996 ‘KIM NELSON’ - Anthony Rose Gallery, Yass, NSW 

• 1997 ‘NELSON/DOUGLAS’ - Cuppacumbalong Art Gallery, Canberra, ACT  

• 1997 ‘INTO THE LIGHT’ - Mallet Street Art Space, Sydney, NSW    

• 1998 'WINTER’ - Griffith Gallery, Canberra, ACT     

• 1999 ‘RETROSPECTIVE - Ten Years of Cooma Cottage’ (Photographic exhibition) - Heritage Week exhibition for the National Trust of Australia, NSW 

• 1999 ‘KIM NELSON’ - Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney, NSW

• 1999 ‘A SACRED PLACE’ - The Sheep’s Back Gallery, Yass, NSW      

• 2000 ‘KIM NELSON: Recent Works - Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney, NSW 

• 2000 ‘RETROSPECTIVE: CAVAN - Open Gardens Scheme, Cavan Homestead, Cavan, NSW

• 2001 ‘WORKS ON PAPER’ - Anthony Rose Gallery, Yass, NSW 

• 2001 ‘THE LINE, THE CROSS & THE CURVE’ - Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney 

• 2002 'PICTURE SUNDAY' - Open studio at the artist's home

• 2003 ‘The ODDFELLOW EXHIBITION’ – Sheep’s Back Gallery, Yass, NSW

• 2005 ‘POSTCARDS’ - The Sheep’s Back Gallery, Yass, NSW 

• 2005 ‘ICON’ – Salmon Gallery, Sydney, NSW

• 2005 ‘BEYOND THESE SHORES’  – GIG Gallery, Sydney, NSW     

• 2006 ‘METAPHOR’  – Salmon Gallery, Sydney, NSW 

• 2006 ‘WATERLINE’ & ‘SKETCH’ – The Sheep’s Back Gallery, Yass, NSW 

• 2007 ‘AS ABOVE SO BELOW’ – United Galleries, Perth, WA 

• 2008 ‘THINKING OF FRIEDRICH’ – United Galleries, Sydney, NSW 

• 2009 PENOMBRE – The Sheep’s Back Gallery, Yass, NSW 

• 2010 OF EARTH BELOW – United Galleries, Perth, WA 

• 2010 OPEN STUDIO – Kim Nelson Fine Art & Editions, Yass, NSW 

• 2011 OPEN STUDIO – Kim Nelson Fine Art & Editions, Yass, NSW 

• 2012 'HOMELAND' - Kim Nelson Fine Art & Editions, Yass, NSW

• 2014 'THE ODD EXHIBITION' - Kim Nelson Fine Art & Editions, Yass, NSW

• 2015 'KIM NELSON RETROSPECTIVE' - Tyger Gallery, Yass, NSW
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EXHIBITIONS - GROUP

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• 1999 ‘ALICE BALE AWARD’  (finalist) - Glen Eira Regional Gallery, Melbourne, VIC

• 2001 'URBAN TRAFFIC’ - Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, VIC

• 2001 'ALICE BALE AWARD’  - Glen Eira Regional Gallery, Melbourne, VIC

• 2002 ‘CANBERRA ART PRIZE’ – Italo-Australian Club, Canberra, ACT

• 2002 ‘(LAND)SCAPES’   (Group exhibition)  - Salmon Gallery, Sydney, NSW

• 2004 ‘CANBERRA ART PRIZE’ – Italo-Australian Club, Canberra, ACT

• 2006 ‘ITALIAN FESTIVAL SHOW’  – Domain Gallery, Sydney, NSW

• 2006 ‘The LINAC ART COLLECTION’ – Shoalhaven Regional Gallery

• 2006 ‘STORYTELLER’ (Group exhibition) – Charles Hewitt Gallery, Sydney, NSW

• 2007 ‘PRESENCE - ABSENCE’  – United Galleries Sydney, NSW

• 2008 ‘NUDE’ – United Galleries, Sydney, NSW

• 2008 'WEETALIBAH’ – Weetalibah, Yass, WA

• 2008 ‘UNWRAPPED’  – United Galleries, Perth, WA

• 2008 SHIRLEY HANNAN PORTRAIT PRIZE– Bega Regional Gallery, NSW

• 2009 THE EASTER EXHIBITION – Forest Gallery, Durras, NSW

• 2009 YASSarts EXHIBITION - The Sheep’s Back Gallery, Yass, NSW

• 2009 ‘30 x 40’ - United Galleries, Sydney, NSW 

• 2009 BLACK SWAN PRIZE for PORTRAITURE’ - Perth Town Hall, Perth, WA

• 2009 [not] WASTLAND – Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Canberra, ACT

• 2010 SHIRLEY HANNAN PORTRAIT PRIZE  – Bega Regional Gallery, NSW

• 2010 ‘BLACK SWAN PRIZE for PORTRAITURE’ – Perth Town Hall, Perth, WA

• 2010 ‘COUNTRYSCAPES’ Country Energy Art Prize – Glasshouse Regional Gallery, NSW

• 2010 '10 OUT OF 10’ (Group Exhibition) – Anthony Rose Gallery, Yass, NSW

• 2011 BLACK SWAN PRIZE for PORTRAITURE – Perth Town Hall, Perth, WA

• 2011 ‘COUNTRYSCAPES’ Essential Energy Art Prize– Bathurst Regional Gallery, NSW

• 2011 SUMMER EXHIBITION - Buratti Fine Art, Perth, WA

• 2012 ‘WINDOWS ON THE SACRED’ - Buratti Fine Art, Perth, WA

• 2012 SHIRLEY HANNAN PORTRAIT PRIZE– Bega Regional Gallery, NSW

• 2013 JOHN GLOVER ART PRIZE - Evandale, Tasmania

• 2013 ART A LA PALETTE (Mount Ashby Estate) - Moss Vale, NSW

• 2013 PLEIN AIR PRIZE - NSW Parliament House, Sydney, NSW

• 2013 'WINDOWS TO THE SACRED' - S.H.Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW

• 2013 CENTENARY OF CANBERRA Exhibition - Aarwun Gallery, Canberra, ACT

• 2014 'WINDOWS TO THE SACRED' - Devonport Regional Gallery, Tasmania

• 2014 'PLEIN AIR PRIZE' - NSW Parliament House, Sydney, NSW

• 2014 'AN ODD COLLECTION of FELLOWS' - Oddfellows Arts Centre, Yass, NSW

• 2014 'MEDITATION': CONTEMPORARY STILL LIFE - Buratti Fine Art, Perth, WA

• 2015 'WINDOWS TO THE SACRED' - Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Victoria