Brett Whiteley The 15 great dog pisses of Paris 1989 from the portfolio Paris 'Regard de Côté’, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Brett Whiteley Studio Collection © Wendy Whiteley

Brett Whiteley travelled extensively throughout his life, setting down his experiences in charcoal, photographs and paint – a visual diary of Paris, New York, Fiji and Tokyo.

This exhibition includes both his early works of Paris, which have never been displayed before, and his last experiences of this beautiful city.

When he returned to Paris at 50 in 1989, Whiteley wrote:

I first went to Paris at age 20, but was so obsessed with modernism and abstraction to paint it. Now with fresh eyes, I could respond figuratively and lyrically to the one ravishing subject – Paris and her cultural heroes.

I love the stoniness and creaminess, that wonderful soiled magnolia feeling. Paris is so sensual, beautiful, flirtatious, mischievous, arrogant, orderly, civilised. They call Paris a whore because she seduces you on every corner, and every street I turned, I could see another picture.

An Art Gallery of New South Wales and Brett Whiteley Studio touring exhibition developed in partnership with Cairns Regional Gallery.

Principal sponsor of the Brett Whiteley Studio