RE: Born, a new exhibition by celebrated Australian artist John Ned Kelly, has now opened at Midland’s Birli Gallery.

Marking a compelling shift in Kelly’s practice, RE: Born moves beyond the powerful stockman figures that have long defined his work and instead turns its gaze upward, into the living architecture of trees.

In this striking body of paintings, Kelly explores the quiet presence of trees as witnesses to time, memory and renewal.

Dense foliage, twisting branches and luminous canopies form the central language of the exhibition, capturing both the vitality and stillness of the Australian landscape.

These works position trees not simply as elements of scenery, but as living, enduring presences, sheltering wildlife, shaping ecosystems, and sustaining life itself through the oxygen they provide.

“I wanted to focus on something that’s always been there, but often overlooked,” Kelly said.

“Trees carry a quiet strength and resilience. They hold history, they adapt and they endure. There’s a kind of majesty in that resilience, and this series is about honouring it.”

Kelly’s unmistakable painterly style, bold, textured and deeply atmospheric, remains, yet the exhibition introduces a new softness and introspection.

Leaves and canopy forms become repositories of memory, suggesting that landscapes hold stories far older than ourselves, and each work invites viewers to consider trees as guardians of place and silent witnesses to change, growth and continuity.

Birli Gallery curator Brooke Farrell describes the exhibition as a pivotal moment in Kelly’s evolving practice.

“This body of work feels both grounded and expansive,” she said.

“There is a reverence in the way John has approached these subjects, lending them an almost human presence. In RE: Born, the trees become keepers of memory, protectors, and life-giving forces. It’s a powerful shift that speaks to environmental  connection, while still remaining unmistakably his.”

Significantly, RE: Born marks a rare opportunity for collectors, with just 15 works to be released.

As a tightly held and highly considered series, the exhibition captures a defining moment of transition in Kelly’s career.

The exhibition reflects the gallery’s ongoing commitment to supporting artists who deepen our understanding of the Australian landscape through contemporary practice.

Inviting audiences to slow down, look up, and reconnect, RE: Born is a meditation on strength, presence and the enduring majesty of trees.

The exhibition is open until April 26.