Trevor 'Turbo' Brown

Animals are my friends; they come to me in my dreams.
– Trevor 'Turbo' Brown, 2012

Trevor 'Turbo' Brown is a Latje Latje man from Mildura and was born in 1967. Turbo holds a Diploma of Arts (Visual Arts) from RMIT Melbourne which he completed in 2005. His first solo exhibition at the Koorie Heritage Trust in Melbourne in 2004 was a sell-out, with almost all of the pieces bought by the opening night, from this point Turbo's has achieved substantial recognition for his art practice across the world. Turbo's work was in the finals of the 22nd National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in 2005, 2006, and 2008.

Turbo's work has also been acquired by and is in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria and National Gallery of Australia. He has exhibited at the prestigious Rebecca Hossack Gallery in London, and more recently has had very successful shows at Rex Livingston in Sydney, Boscia Galleries in Melbourne and his work was also included in Gori-Illa, a show of approximately 90 Aboriginal artists from across Australia which travelled to Italy.

In March this year Turbo won the Deadly Art Award, Victoria's highest honour for an Indigenous artist, at the 2012 Victorian Indigenous Art Awards for his painting "Owl Dreaming". Turbo practises out of the Kreisler Gallery in Brunswick, owned by his friend and manager Nick Kreisler, using the dynamic Brunswick cultural hub to produce his works and meet new people.

Created especially for Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Turbo's exhibition Last Man Standing is a burst of colour and life, a celebration of Turbo and of Victorian Aboriginal Culture and spirit. Turbo shares his experiences and observations and it reminds us to look closely at our environment and at each other, be strong, be kind and most of all, listen to the animals.

Last Man Standing was on show in the Birrarung Gallery from 16 November 2012 to 16 June 2013.

Exhibition Curator: Kimberley Moulton

We would like to acknowledge the passing of Trevor Turbo Brown. It was an honour to host his solo exhibition Last Man Standing in the Birrarung Gallery. During the process of the development of his exhibition Turbo would often come in and visit us at Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Melbourne Museum, often sitting in Milarri Garden spending time with staff and the birds, eels and fish. Turbo always brought a smile to our faces and we will forever remember him and his incredible talent.