The National Gallery of Australia is currently showcasing a groundbreaking exhibition that celebrates two iconic Australian fashion designers who transformed their country's fashion reputation on the global stage. "Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay" highlights the work of Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, industry pioneers who launched Australian fashion into international prominence during a time when the country's visual culture was often dismissed or considered embarrassing.

The exhibition explores the profound influence of French multidisciplinary artist Sonia Delaunay (1885-1979) on both designers' creative vision and approach to fashion as art. According to Simeran Maxwell, associate curator of Australian Art at the National Gallery of Australia, both Kee and Jackson were independently drawn to Delaunay's revolutionary work from the early 1970s. "Once Kee and Jackson joined forces in the mid-1970s, it became one of their early joint obsessions, creating multiple collections inspired by her work," Maxwell explained.

Sonia Delaunay began her artistic career as a painter and, alongside her husband Robert Delaunay, developed an abstract style known as both Orphism and Simultanism. This movement represented an offshoot of Cubism that emphasized geometric shapes and vibrant colors. From 1911, Delaunay expanded her artistic repertoire to include textiles, becoming one of the first modern artists to deliberately bring fashion and textile design into the art world. "She saw her clothing and textile designs as equal to her paintings," Maxwell noted.

Following Delaunay's pioneering example, Kee and Jackson introduced the concept of fashion as art to Australian audiences and later to international markets. "It was the legacy of Delaunay that allowed them to do that," Maxwell explains. The former business partners and lifelong friends are both renowned for their deep appreciation and respect for Australian flora, fauna, geography, and culture, yet their individual artistic expressions remained distinctly different.

Maxwell emphasizes the unique visual identity of each designer, stating, "Their individual work is actually so different from one another, like their personalities. You can never mistake a Jenny Kee garment from a Linda Jackson one." This distinctive quality contributed to their individual success and collective impact on Australian fashion history.

The current exhibition brings together an impressive collection of works by Kee and Jackson, alongside the gallery's complete Delaunay print collection and selected textiles. Maxwell describes the Delaunay collection as ranging "from never-before-seen abstract works (only recently conserved by the Gallery's paper conservators), to exquisite pochoirs in which she explored the possibilities for pattern, color and design." The exhibition is structured in two parts, with the first phase currently on display and a changeover planned for November 2025 to showcase additional pieces by Kee and Jackson.

The National Gallery of Australia has recently made a significant commitment to preserving these designers' legacies by permanently acquiring over 80 works by Kee and Jackson. This acquisition includes key pieces and complete ensembles from their personal collections, with some items generously donated to the institution. The gallery plans to continue incorporating their work into future displays to highlight the designers' global influence.

This exhibition is part of the ongoing "Know My Name" project, a National Gallery initiative specifically designed to celebrate the contributions of women artists and enhance public understanding of their role in Australia's cultural development. Maxwell hopes that visitors will recognize how Australian fashion has earned its place in international western art history, noting that "Kee and Jackson took Australia to the world on the backs of their clothing designs. Not many designers can say that."

"Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay" will remain on display at the National Gallery of Australia until July 2026, with free admission for all visitors.