A touring exhibition from the Brett Whiteley studio in New South Wales, titled *Inside The Studio*, has arrived at the Shepparton Art Museum in Victoria—its final stop and only Victorian venue. The show features drawings, ceramics, sketchbooks, photographs, Whiteley's iconic Sydney Harbour painting, and his 1976 Archibald Prize-winning self-portrait. Wendy Whiteley, the artist's former wife and an artist herself, shares memories of their turbulent marriage, including his struggles with addiction and his intense dedication to his craft. She has also repurchased several of her favorite sketches of her in the bathtub, which had been auctioned off over the years.
The exhibition matters because it offers an intimate, unvarnished look at one of Australia's most celebrated yet troubled artists, revealing the tension between his pursuit of beauty and his personal demons. By including personal artifacts and Wendy Whiteley's firsthand reflections, the show humanizes Brett Whiteley beyond his public persona, while also highlighting the enduring power of his creativity. It underscores how art can serve as both a sanctuary and a mirror for an artist's inner life, and it provides a rare opportunity for regional audiences to engage with major works from a national treasure.