It is with great joy and deep admiration that I write this forward for the first solo exhibition of works by my dear friend, mentor, and inspiration—Marlene Antico OAM— on the occasion of her 80th birthday. I first met Marlene 23 years ago, fresh from completing my Master’s in Curatorship and Modern Art at Sydney University. She offered me my very first gallery job, working at Marlene Antico Fine Art in Paddington, and from the moment I stepped into that space, I witnessed first-hand the dedication, passion, and grace with which she approached every facet of her life—whether it was supporting the artists she so deeply believed in, running a thriving gallery, or nurturing her beloved family as a mother of three and grandmother. Marlene’s love for art is something she has always given outwardly—to others. She has championed countless artists over the years, providing not just a platform but a deep well of encouragement and unwavering belief in their potential. In 2004, I had the privilege of working alongside her as she founded The Paddington Art Prize, a nationally recognised award that has gone on to become one of Australia’s most prestigious and coveted prizes for landscape painting. It was yet another testament to her vision and enduring commitment to the arts. And now, after decades of being a patron, gallerist, and champion of others, Marlene steps into the light in a new way—with her own artistic voice. To see her work gracing the walls is both moving and momentous. These pieces are not just paintings; they are reflections of a life steeped in creativity, generosity, and quiet strength. Using vibrant colour, textured surfaces, layered paint and collage, Marlene explores the beauty and poignancy of the everyday. Dried flowers, leaves, and twigs serve as recurring motifs—metaphors for the transformation of our physical and spiritual selves. Inspired by treasured objects and remembered places, these works evolve intuitively, becoming deeply personal meditations. Birds, a lifelong fascination since her childhood in Brisbane, also appear throughout—symbols of communication, fragility, and wonder. In some works, birds from antiquity find themselves perched within Sydney’s waterways, quietly bridging past and present, nature and memory. I invite you to explore and connect with this collection— which serves as both a celebration of life and a quiet reflection on its passing moments. What makes this moment even more special for me is the beautiful full circle it represents—two decades after beginning my career in Marlene’s gallery, I now have the immense honour of exhibiting her debut body of work in my own gallery in Woollahra. It is a privilege beyond words. To Marlene—thank you for all you have given to the arts community, and for the honour of knowing you. This exhibition is long overdue, and entirely deserved.

An exhibition of paintings by any artist is a revelation. A revelation because that particular curatorium becomes a deeply personal touchstone and conduit into the inspiration, soul, and sensitivity concurrent in the creative process. Yes, there are historical influences, yes, there are metaphorical musings but a more in- depth view will reveal something more about the artist and their modus operandi. The exhibition, “Still Lifes and Other Curiosities” by Marlene Antico is not just a celebration to mark her eightieth birthday, it is a celebration of a life where art plays a central role. Throughout her energetic career, Marlene has dedicated an immense wealth of energy to the promotion of the Visual Arts for which she was nominated and received an Order of Australia. This is a life that is laden with an abundance of curiosity, joie de vivre as well as an inquisitive speculation about aspects of nature that bring happiness to both the artist and viewer. Some titles that appear to have just fallen from the boughs of a nearby tree offer the keenest insights into this joyful compendium of observations and provide a visual travelogue at home and abroad. “Pomegranates in Tamborine Mountain”, are almost like appetisers to be shared whilst away on ... “Holiday with Feathered Friends, Surfers Paradise”. Seasonal offerings like “Summer Arrangement”, “Spring Offering” and “Autumn Garden, Bellevue Hill” not only embrace the joys of nature but also provide thoughtful compositions that act as spicy and exotic backdrops for the “The Ginger Pot”, “The Korean Dish“, ” Sweet Ghanesh” and “Hot Chili”. Two fallen leaves in “Momentos” seem to add a touch of pathos to this exquisitely colourful composition that sits in a quiet alcove in retreat from a riot of native birdlife that features foremost in Marlene’s celebratory exposition. A key message, in fact, from this exquisite insight into Marlene’s viewpoint, is to embrace the complex simplicity of the everyday. How to create a seemingly simple visual statement is a result of endless inquisitiveness about colour, composition and many years dedicated to the contemplation of her natural surroundings. A superb tradition of still life studies, coupled with a modernist approach to colour, composition and the fundamental foundations of the principals of design are inherent in Marlene’s works and provide a warm, generosity as well as an optimistic view of a world that, at the point of writing, is currently overshadowed wherever we look, by dark times. We ask ... “In the dark times, will there be singing ?” ... and Berthold Brecht responds soberly from an unlit corner of the room ...“Yes, there will be singing. About the dark times”. Fortunately, there is nothing quite so bleak in this exhibition and Marlene Antico has bypassed that profound melancholy and, thankfully, we are not quite at that point of desperation. But if we do find ourselves at that onerous juncture, it is imperative that we turn to Marlene Antico’s works in this exhibition and seek the solace that she so brilliantly offers.