BELLA KELLY RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION 2016
Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany WA | 24 March – 4 June
John Curtin Gallery, Bentley, WA | 20 June – 21 August
NEXIS Narrogin Exhibition Space, WA | 9 September – 16 October
Biography
1915
January 14 Isobel Colbung, known as Bella, born at a traditional birthing place north of Mt Barker to Billy Colbung and Nina Bayla Brockman.
Grows up on the Edgerton-Warburton farm west of Mt Barker. Became firm friends with Kitty Edgerton-Warburton.
Hear about possible early artistic influences on Bella Kelly.
Late 1920s
Works at a farm in Kendenup, domestic and child minding role. From there, she goes to Kojonup and then to Narrogin.
1930s
In Narrogin, she marries Henry Kelly and has four sons Simpson (1936-1996), Gregory (1937 -1992), Flemming (1938-1997) and Goldie (1943-1988).
Mid 1940s
Bella is given a set of paints by Mrs Edwards, member of the Narrogin Native Welfare Committee. Dr Jacobs, local doctor and member of the Native Welfare Committee, also encourages Bella to paint by giving her paper and paints.
1946
Her four sons are taken away from her and sent to Carrolup Native Settlement.
1947
Photographs of two of her paintings are printed in the Narrogin Observer, 19 April, 1947.
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Another painting is reproduced in the Narrogin Observer, 23 April, 1948.
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Late 1940s
Partners Largy Narkle. Lives in Frankland for a short time.
1950
Carrolup Native Settlement closes.
1951
Son Geoffrey Narkle born in Mt Barker.
1954
Narrogin. Daughter Cheryl Ann Narkle born in Valmai Maternity Hospital, Narrogin. Midwife remembers Bella Kelly painting watercolours while in hospital, and being shown how to sign her name on the bottom of her paintings.
1955
Daughter Lorrice Kelly born in Narrogin.
1957
Daughter Caroline Narkle born in Narrogin.
1958
Cranbrook. Bella is painting watercolours on sketchbook paper and selling paintings at the hotel and store.
1960
Bella Kelly receives award for “the best painting by a coloured person” at the Narrogin Arts Festival. Photograph appears in an article about the Festival in the Australian Women’s Weekly regional supplement, 30 November, 1960.
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Exhibits in Perth in an Aboriginal art exhibition at the Dulux Colour Centre, NLMA Building, St George’s Tce, Perth. Bella Kelly exhibits two paintings titled “Early Summer” and “Sandy Bay”. Bella Kelly is described in the catalogue as “Lives in Narrogin, in the South West, and has grown up children. Mrs Kelly has been painting since childhood.” Other artists are William Bodney, Colin Calyun, Revel Cooper, Ossie Edgell, Malcolm Ellis, Reynold Hart, and Patricia Jackamarra.
1962
Her four youngest children are taken to Wandering Mission.
Gnowangerup. Seeing Bella’s interest in painting, the Native Welfare Officer takes Bella to meet the local high school art teacher. Impressed by the quality of Bella’s paintings, the teacher buys two watercolours on sketchbook paper and encourages her to keep painting.
1960s
Paintings by Bella Kelly sold in many different places in the Great Southern and South West – Narrogin, Tambellup, Cranbrook, Kendenup, Mt Barker, Albany.
1963
Largy Narkle dies.
1965
Living at the Mt Barker Reserve.
1966
Cranbrook. Selling paintings in the street.
1967
Bella Kelly’s art attracts publicity in the Albany Advertiser, 6 March, 1967.
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1969-70
Her four children leave Wandering Mission. Cheryl, Lorrice and Caroline join her in Mt Barker.
1971-72
Tambellup. Sells her paintings through Alan Jones’ butcher shop.
1972
November. Exhibits at the Gallery of Aboriginal Art, Wellington Street, Perth, with her son Goldie Kelly.
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1973
Lives in Fremantle. Nephew Ken Colbung introduces her to galleries.
1974
Mt Barker. Painting with acrylic paint on canvas boards. Joins the Baptist Church.
1976
Painting titled “Sanctuary” acquired by the Shire of Beverley, through the Shire of Beverley Purchase Exhibition.
Article “Mt Barker’s Bella is a top painter” by Stan Mentha in the Farmer and Grazier newspaper, November 18, 1976.
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1977
Exhibits at Waterman’s Restaurant, Mt Barker, with her son Geoffrey Narkle. Also living in Wagin in this period.
Article “Bella’s paintings are in demand from collectors” by Stan Mentha in West Australian, Tuesday August 2, 1977.
1980s
Sells art through Amity Crafts, Albany and through the Southern Aboriginal Corporation Art Shop in York Street Albany.
Bella Kelly’s painting is voted the most popular painting in the Albany Art Competition.
1988
Receives Aboriginal Artist of the Year award from the National Aboriginal Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC)
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Late 1980s – early 1990s
Sold paintings through the Narrikup Store, Narrikup.
1991
Exhibits 26 acrylic paintings at Fremantle Arts Centre, from 12 April to 5 May with Alma Toomath and Michelle Broun. Article in West Australian 15 April, 1991.
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1992
Included in Nyungar Landscapes – Aboriginal artists of the South West: the heritage of Carrolup, Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, University of Western Australia.
1993
Article “Self-taught artist finds inspiration in raw landscape” by Pat Fraser in Albany Advertiser.
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1994
Dies in hospital in Perth and is buried in Narrogin.
Exhibitions
1960
“Exhibition of Paintings by a Selection of Aboriginal artists”, Dulux Colour Centre, NLMA Building, St George’s Tce, Perth.
1972
November, Gallery of Aboriginal Art, Wellington Street, Perth, exhibition with her son Goldie Kelly.
1977
Waterman’s Gallery, Mt Barker, exhibition with her son Geoffrey Narkle.
1991
Fremantle Arts Centre, exhibition with Alma Toomath and Michelle Broun.
2000
Aboriginal artists from the South West : Past and Present Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, University of Western Australia.
2003
South West Central: Indigenous art from south Western Australia 1833 – 2002 Art Gallery of Western Australia.
2006
Koorah Coolingah (Children Long Ago) exhibition, the Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia, includes “Dawn Landscape” 1986 from the Berndt Museum collection.
2009
The Legacy of Koorah Coolingah (Children Long Ago) exhibition, the Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia, at Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane, Queensland.
2014
Ripples in the Pond, Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany, Western Australia.
2016
Bella Kelly Retrospective Exhibition.
Vancouver Arts Centre, Albany, Western Australia, 24 March to 4 June.
John Curtin Gallery, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, 20 June to 21 August.
NEXIS Narrogin Exhibition Space, Narrogin, Western Australia, 10 September to 16 October.
Public Collections
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia
Edith Cowan University
City of Albany
Shire of Plantagenet
Shire of Beverley
Town of Narrogin
Mt Barker Community College
Albany Regional Hospital
Bella Kelly's work also features in many private collections.