Gorman-Mora exhibition celebrates artistic friendship

Many Australians may be familiar with Lisa Gorman's colourful fashion and artist Mirka Mora's heartfelt textiles and paintings.

Less well known is that the creative pair became friends in the years before Mora's death in 2018 at the age of 90.

The work of both artists is the subject of a world premiere exhibition at the Warrnambool Art Gallery to open in November, designed to celebrate their love of colour, illusion and experimentation.

Gorman was born in Warrnambool and founded the Gorman label in 1999, helming what became a fashion powerhouse known for its vibrant prints until 2021.

Mora, a French-born Australian artist, was a well-known figure in Melbourne's postwar art and music scene, with links to the influential artist's colony at Heide.

They formed a strong friendship following a collaboration for the Gorman label in 2016.

Garments from the Mirka X Gorman ventures in 2016 and 2018 will be part of the exhibition, along with Mora's tapestries, soft sculptures, neon ink works from the 1980s, and never-before-seen paintings by the prolific artist.

Following her departure from her eponymous label, Gorman moved into the world of fine art, creating a series of acrylic sculptures based on the warp and weft of weaving for a debut exhibition in Melbourne in 2022.

The Warrnambool show will unveil a large-scale sculptural installation along similar lines.

Warrnambool Art Gallery was fast becoming a destination for fans of contemporary art and design, said director Aaron Bradbrook.

"The all-encompassing exhibition will take fashion and art lovers on a journey through collaborative practice, inspiration and mood covering the last 60 years," he said.

The show is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the town in Victoria's southwest, and has been backed by the state government's regional event fund.

Lisa Gorman and Mirka Mora: To breathe with the rhythm of the heart will be open on November 18.