Titled Coffee, Turps and Devotion, the exhibition (14–30 August) brings together recent drawings, paintings, and sculptures in a deeply personal reflection of studio life in Riverton. Curated by Hill Smith Art Advisory, it marks the first time this creative couple has exhibited together outside their own gallery.
Robert and Alison may share a studio—and a life—but their styles remain distinct. Robert, known nationally for his commissioned portraits and public sculptures, says: “I am conscious of the saying ‘let the paintings speak for themselves’ which I think recognises that art can speak to us beyond words… For me it has always been about the thing seen, the thing in itself.”
Alison, whose expressive still life works echo a deep love for the natural world, adds: “As I paint, I begin to see subtle shifts of light and perspective… Painting is a dance, sometimes awkward, sometimes sublime. I paint to ‘feel’ with my eyes, to feel the world afresh.”
Robert Hannaford is one of Australia’s foremost realist painters and sculptors, while Alison Mitchell Hannaford is best known for her still life paintings.
To complement the exhibition, ILA is offering a unique digital experience: Pixel Paint (20–30 August). Visitors of all ages are invited to pick up a digital brush and create their own masterpiece on ILA’s state-of-the-art LED screens.
Becc Bates, CEO of ILA, describes the experience as: “a playful accompanying activation that brings selected works from the exhibition to life through motion, sound, and projection.”
‘Coffee, Turps and Devotion’: Exhibition details
When: 14 – 30 August 2025; Wednesday – Saturday 11am to 8:30pm
Where: ILA – The Light Room Gallery, Level 1, 63 Light Square, Adelaide SA
Entry is free
Pixel Paint: Activation details
When: 20 – 30 August 2025; Wednesday to Saturday 11 am to 8:30 pm
Where: ILA – The Light Room Studio, Level 1, 63 Light Square, Adelaide SA
Tickets and bookings here.
