Kevin has been exhibiting his work in Echuca, nationally and around the world for more than 20 years but it wasn't until he took a trip out to Gunbower during the COVID-19 pandemic and saw a shopfront up for lease that he and his partner Tanya Flowers decided to take the plunge and open their own art space.
“We had looked around in Echuca but we weren’t serious until we saw this place at Gunbower,” Kevin said.
The couple took over the lease at Christmas and spent the next few months renovating the space in preparation.
“Gunbower is a really nice spot,” Kevin said.
“It's not too far from Echuca, it has a great cafe and pub and, since opening, we have found we get a lot of people calling in who are just passing through,” Kevin said.
The Kevin Williams Art Gallery has already proven to be a popular tourist destination, along with a great way to point out the unique and natural sites of the area.
“I told a couple about Kow Swamp, the inspiration for one of my paintings,” Kevin said.
“They went out to have a look and when they came back, they bought the painting.”
Natural beauty features heavily in Kevin’s work and his inspiration comes from many places - sunsets, the unusual shape of a tree or a leaf and, of course, his memories of home.
In his early years, Kevin lived in a tent on the Murrumbidgee at Warangesda Mission at Darlington Point, Narrandera, home to the largest traditional meeting place (Bora ground) ever recorded.
The site includes two large circles, connected by a 500m pathway prolific with ground carvings, 100 ornately calved trees with symbols, markings and totem animals of the Waradjuri.
“I grew up with my parents and grandfather making boomerangs and watching my mum paint and that is where my interest in art came from,” Kevin said.
A handy footballer in his younger days, it wasn’t until Kevin got injured that he started to seriously consider painting.
“I painted in my teens and then through my 20’s and once I started selling enough work, it allowed me to paint full-time,” Kevin said.
Kevin’s journey into the art world has been one he never really saw coming but it has resulted in having his works hung in some pretty prominent places, including the office of the president of the legislative council.
“They took down a $240,000 Frederick McCubbin painting to put mine up near a Tom Roberts and that was pretty amazing,” he said.
Over the years Kevin has won art awards, created a 10-card greeting line and had a body of work commissioned, which has travelled the world and was exhibited in nine countries for the Department of Foreign Affairs.
His paintings are now sold across Australia and overseas.
Kevin describes his work as contemporary aboriginal art influenced by a strong cultural connection to Waradjuri.
“I combine the symbols and markings from my culture and heritage,” he said.
“Sometimes I will paint a background and come back to it months later while other times I see it in my head straight away.”
It seems artistic talent has also passed down to Kevin’s daughter Rihannon, who has completed her first year of a fine arts degree after being accepted based on the quality of her portfolio.
Her lecturer has already asked her to host an exhibition and some of her work can be viewed at the Gunbower art gallery.
Tanya’s work is influenced by her upbringing with her grandmother, mother, aunties and life and times living on Wakaman country in Queensland.
Tanya includes the use of emu feathers in her work, which includes a colourful handmade jewellery line, caps and aprons.
The Kevin Williams Art Gallery is open most days.
For information visit kevinwilliamsdesigns on Instagram or contact Kevin on 0429 320 042.
More local news
Appeal for information on Pine Grove CFA burglary
Foundry's Dreaming exhibition comes to a close with grand finish
NSW border businesses at ‘breaking point'
