At a time when Australia’s visual culture was deemed unpopular or even shameful, Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson launched Australian fashion onto the world stage.

Now industry icons, archival pieces by both designers are on display at Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay showing at National Gallery of Australia, which explores the influence of French multidisciplinary artist Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979) on their work.

Because of her groundbreaking attitude to fashion, as well as an extraordinary way with colour and shape, both Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson were drawn to Delaunay from the early 1970s.

‘They were independently attracted to Delaunay’s work but 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,’ says Simeran Maxwell, associate curator, Australian Art, National Gallery of Australia.

Delaunay began her career as a painter, and together with her husband Robert Delaunay, developed an abstract style known both as Orphism and Simultanism — an offshoot of Cubism that focused on geometric shapes and bright colours.

From 1911, Delaunay began to expand her repertoire to textiles, becoming one of the first modern artists who brought fashion and textile design deliberately into the art world. ‘She saw her clothing and textile designs as equal to her paintings,’ says Simeran.

Similarly, Kee and Jackson brought the notion of fashion as art to the Australian public, and later to the world. ‘It was the legacy of Delaunay that allowed them to do that,’ Simeran explains.

The former business partners and firm friends are both famous for their deep love and respect for Australian flora, fauna, geography and culture, but their individual work was always visually distinct.

‘Their individual work is actually so different from one another, like their personalities,’ says Simeran. ‘You can never mistake a Jenny Kee garment from a Linda Jackson one.’

Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay brings together works by Kee and Jackson, as well as the gallery’s entire Delaunay print collection and select textiles.

‘This collection ranges 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, colour and design,’ says Simeran.

Part one of the exhibition is on now, with a changeover in November 2025 planned to showcase more items by Kee and Jackson.

National Gallery of Australia recently permanently acquired over 80 works by the designers, including key pieces and ensembles from their personal collections, and some generously gifted.

Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay is part of the ongoing Know My Name project — a National Gallery initiative celebrating the work of women artists to enhance understanding of their contribution to Australia’s cultural life.

National Gallery of Australia will continue to insert Kee and Jackson’s work into our future display, highlighting the designers’ global influence.

‘I hope visitors see how Australian fashion has its firm place in international western art history,’ says Simeran.

‘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’ is on display at National Gallery of Australia until July 2026. Exhibition entry is free.