Linda Jackson and Jenny Kee’s fashion legacy lands in Canberra

Posted on 2 July, 2025

When two of Australia’s most iconic fashion designers decide to share their life’s work with the nation, you know something special is happening.

The National Gallery of Australia has just welcomed over 80 extraordinary pieces by Linda Jackson and Jenny Kee into the national collection – and Canberrans are among the first to experience this fashion treasure trove.

Walking through the gallery’s latest exhibition, Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay, feels like stepping into a kaleidoscope of Australian creativity. These aren’t just clothes hanging on display – they’re wearable stories that capture the spirit of our landscape, from vibrant florals inspired by native bushland to bold geometric patterns that dance with colour and light.

The partnership between Jackson and Kee began in the 1970s when Jackson started selling her designs through Kee’s legendary Flamingo Park boutique in Sydney’s Strand Arcade. What emerged was a creative force that put Australian fashion on the international map, proving that our homegrown talent could hold its own against any global fashion capital.

Jenny Kee with Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay. Photograph: supplied.

What makes this acquisition particularly special is that many pieces come directly from the designers’ personal collections – items they’ve treasured and preserved for decades. Among the highlights are Kee’s signature knitwear from her groundbreaking Art Knit Series of 1976, known as ARTISTE, and a stunning selection of Jackson’s innovative textile designs spanning from the late 1960s to the early 2000s.

These garments tell a uniquely Australian story. Jackson and Kee drew inspiration from our native flora and fauna, creating hand-painted silks and vibrantly patterned knitwear that celebrated everything from eucalyptus leaves to desert blooms. Their work was refreshingly independent of international fashion trends, instead finding beauty in the Australian environment and vintage clothing culture.

“Our work has always been about storytelling, nature and the spirit of Australia – expressed through fabric, form and feeling,” says Jackson of the acquisition. It’s this authentic connection to place that makes their designs feel so relevant, even decades after they were first created.

Linda Jackson with Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay. Photography: supplied.

The timing couldn’t be more perfect. This acquisition supports the gallery’s Know My Name initiative, celebrating women artists and their contributions to Australia’s cultural landscape. Nearly 40 years after Jackson and Kee were featured in the gallery’s first exhibition focused solely on women artists, their influence continues to inspire new generations of creators.

For Canberrans, this means having one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Jackson and Kee’s work right on their doorstep. The current exhibition runs until July 2026, with fresh pieces rotating in November 2025, so there’ll be plenty of opportunities to rediscover these Australian fashion legends.

Whether you’re a fashion enthusiast or simply curious about Australian cultural history, this exhibition offers a vibrant glimpse into a creative partnership that helped define our national aesthetic. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most powerful art comes from celebrating exactly where we are – and the natural beauty that surrounds us.