Preview a collection of Donovan Christie’s latest works before they are exhibited interstate, spanning nostalgic shopfronts, vintage ghost signs, and distinctly Australian streetscapes.

Donovan captures the nostalgic essence of daily life, from familiar scenes that make up the backdrop to our lives, to pop culture objects that shape our collective memory. Through realistic oil painting, he invites viewers to pause, reflect, and find new significance in the landscape they thought they knew.

New Select Works

An exhibition by Donovan Christie

Part of the SALA 2026 Program

31 July – 27 September 2026

Open Daily | Free Entry

NWC Artspace
Ground Floor and Level 1
National Wine Centre

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Artist Statement

Driven by a deep nostalgia for the places that once formed the heart of everyday Australian life, Donovan Christie documents the disappearing shopfronts, trades and local businesses that have shaped generations of communities. Through meticulously rendered oil paintings, he preserves these familiar streetscapes and fading ghost signs as quiet tributes to a rapidly changing urban landscape.

As gentrification and redevelopment continue to transform our cities and suburbs, Christie's work invites viewers to pause and reconsider the cultural value of these often-overlooked places. His paintings celebrate the character, craftsmanship and shared memories embedded within Australia's built environment, while encouraging a renewed appreciation for the independent businesses and neighbourhood icons that continue to define a sense of place.

This exhibition brings together a preview of new works from the past 2 years ahead of upcoming exhibitions interstate, offering South Australian audiences a preview of paintings that continue his exploration of nostalgia, collective memory and Australia's evolving cultural landscape.

Donovan has been a finalist in numerous major Australian art prizes, including the Wynne Prize, Mosman Art Prize, John Leslie Landscape Prize and Hornsby Art Prize. He was also named among the Top 100 Most Collectible Australian Artists for a second time in 2025.

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