The idea behind Art Lovers Australia was born five years ago when Nancy Donaldson and Jarrod Knight saw a gap in the marketplace. “We knew so many incredible artists who weren’t getting the exposure they deserved,” says Nancy Donaldson. Both have artistic backgrounds and by utilising their combined skill set and remaining relevant and responsive in the ever-changing world of art, their business has gone from strength to strength.
From pop to photography, Aboriginal art to abstract, nudes to nature, sculptures to still life, Art Lovers Australia represents all artistic styles. Jarrod says Art Lovers Australia is about sourcing the best of Australia’s emerging and mid-career artists and curating their work, making it easy for collectors to buy. “We focus on original art as that is the best way to support artists,” he says.
With today’s busy lifestyles, it’s not always possible to dedicate the time needed to peruse art galleries to source art you love and can afford. This is where Art Lovers Australia comes to the fore. It has something to suit every taste and budget. Among the most popular pieces are Petra Meikle De Vlas and her oceanscape series, Kate Owen and her joyful abstracts, and Maria Rudan for portrait commissions.
Both Jarrod and Nancy come from artistic backgrounds. Nancy’s mother encouraged her to look for the beauty in nature, she studied at university and was a visual arts teacher for more than 20 years. Jarrod grew up doodling and drawing cartoons as a child, then went on to study at the Queensland College of Arts. Jarrod says art is a very important part of their lives. “It’s very fulfilling to share this with our collectors,” he says.
Their own tastes in art are diverse; in their personal collection they have works by artists ranging from photorealistic portrait paintings to still life photography, Aboriginal art and urban art. The commonality is that they are all Australian artists.
Jarrod and Nancy have achieved so much but still feel there’s more work to be done to raise the profile of Australian artists. Nancy says their goal is to see artists recognised for their valued cultural contribution. “The images and objects they are creating today are a reflection of contemporary life,” she says. artloversaustralia.com.au