Tamworth Regional Gallery will welcome 23 new artworks into its collection including pieces by Kate Campbell-Pope, Hanna Kay, Jean Isherwood, Anita Larkin, Margarita Sampson and Pro Hart. 

The gallery’s latest acquisitions focus on strengthening Tamworth’s “renowned” collection of Australian landscapes and textiles.

A notable addition is Margarita Sampson’s Anemone Incursions: Marlon.

The textile piece was purchased by the gallery following her 2016 exhibition, Infectious Desires, and was short-listed for the Blake Prize.

“This piece adds to our already significant textile collection,” gallery director Bridget Guthrie said.

“The Gallery is renowned for its textile’s and to acquire Marlon was an opportunity too good to pass up.”

“The value of the work is $24,000, however, we were extremely grateful to negotiate a price less than half of this.

“Our Gallery is renowned for textile art and this artwork and the other textile works acquired in 2016 build on this important collection.”

The Pro Hart paintings, worth more than $80,000, were created for Smoky Dawson’s autobiography ‘A Life’ and are a valuable addition to the Gallery’s collection. 

They were donated to the gallery by Judy Lipman, the niece of Smoky and Dot Dawson.

“When the paintings came up here for the launch of Smoky's statue, I thought they don't need to be on my wall, Tamworth's their second home and they should be part of it,” Ms Lipman said.

The artworks have been added to the Gallery collection through purchase, bequest, donation and as cultural gifts over the past 12 months.

The Tamworth Textile Triennial – which rolls around every three years – will feature on the gallery’s program later this year and its set to feature “the best of textile art from across the country, attracting artist participation from all states in Australia.”

On October 13, the gallery will launch Open House: 3rd Tamworth Textile Triennial, curated by Glenn Barkley.