Laughing Kookaburras Honors the Enduring Legacy of Les Peterkin OAM

NATIONWIDE - DECEMBER 2025 - (USAnews.com) — At the heart of Newcastle, a quiet sense of anticipation surrounds an exhibition that feels both celebratory and reflective. Laughing Kookaburras, the latest body of work by Les Peterkin OAM, brings together decades of artistic exploration, community service, and personal resilience. Hosted at Bid Barn Auction House, the exhibition offers more than a collection of paintings. It presents a considered portrait of an artist whose career has unfolded alongside Australia’s evolving creative landscape.

A Life Shaped by Learning and Creativity

Les Peterkin’s journey into the arts did not begin in a studio. Born in Lismore to a policeman father and a musician mother, his early years balanced discipline with creative expression. He initially pursued education, enrolling at Sydney Teachers College in 1951 to study physical education. His aptitude for teaching led to a lecturing role at the Australian School of Pacific Administration, where he trained educators bound for Papua New Guinea.

Yet the pull of creative practice proved decisive. Peterkin gradually shifted from teaching into ceramics, discovering in clay a medium that allowed both precision and imagination. This transition marked the beginning of a career that would span pottery, painting, performance, and arts advocacy. In 1970, he co-founded Studio 52A in Mosman and the Sydney Festival Ballet Company, contributing to a period of dynamic interdisciplinary collaboration within the Australian arts scene.

Resilience and Reinvention

In 1980, a fire destroyed Peterkin’s studio, a moment that could have ended his practice. Instead, it prompted reinvention. Relocating to Tyalgum in the Tweed Valley, he established the Bakehouse Pottery and later the Galleria Artisans. These spaces became creative hubs, supporting both his own work and that of emerging artists. Over the following decades, Peterkin’s ceramics gained recognition for their craftsmanship and expressive clarity, while his role as mentor and educator expanded through workshops and residencies.

His commitment to nurturing young talent was formalized through initiatives such as the Les Peterkin Portrait Prize for Children and his long-standing association with Lindisfarne Grammar School. Teaching, for Peterkin, remained inseparable from making.

Continued Contribution in Newcastle

Retirement did not mark a withdrawal from public life. After moving to Newcastle, Peterkin found new ways to share his knowledge and creativity. He produced educational ceramic videos as a podcaster, extending his reach beyond physical classrooms. He also became a familiar presence in local nursing homes, playing piano for residents and reinforcing the idea that art, at its best, is a shared experience.

His oral history has since been preserved by the Pride History Group and the Alex Hood Folklore Collection, ensuring that his personal story and professional insights remain part of Australia’s cultural record.

Recognition Through Award and Honor

In December 2025, Peterkin received two significant acknowledgments of his impact. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours List, recognizing his service to the creative arts and the community. Shortly afterward, Best of Best Review named him the Most Acclaimed International Artist in Newcastle, NSW of 2025.

This latter award recognizes artistic innovation, global engagement, and sustained excellence in craft. For Peterkin, it reflects not a single achievement but a lifetime of consistent contribution. The recognition also underscores Newcastle’s growing reputation as a city that values and supports cultural leadership.

The Laughing Kookaburras Exhibition

Laughing Kookaburras brings these threads together through a series of paintings centered on one of Australia’s most recognizable birds. The kookaburra, known for its distinctive call and watchful presence, becomes a visual motif for joy, resilience, and connection to place. Peterkin’s interpretations emphasize color, movement, and character rather than strict realism, inviting viewers to engage emotionally with the subject.

The exhibition opens with a VIP gala and media preview on December 26, 2025, followed by public viewing from December 27, 2025, to January 4, 2026. It will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bid Barn Auction House, 21 Railway Street, Wickham, Newcastle. Alongside the paintings, selected ceramics and personal kookaburra memorabilia will also be displayed, offering additional insight into Peterkin’s broader practice.

An Enduring Artistic Presence

Beyond individual works, the exhibition highlights the values that have defined Peterkin’s career: craftsmanship, generosity, and curiosity. As Patron and Committee Member of the Ceramic Collectors’ Society in Sydney, he continues to advocate for the preservation and appreciation of ceramic arts. His influence remains evident in the many artists he has taught, mentored, and inspired over more than five decades.

Laughing Kookaburras does not seek to summarize a career, but rather to reflect it in motion. It shows an artist still engaged with the world around him, still attentive to detail, and still willing to find new meaning in familiar forms.

A Considered Invitation

For visitors, the exhibition offers an opportunity to engage with Australian art that is both personal and broadly resonant. It situates Les Peterkin OAM not only as an accomplished artist, but as a cultural figure whose work continues to shape conversations about creativity, community, and place.

Further information about Les Peterkin’s work can be found through his official website, Facebook, or YouTube channel. Media and VIP enquiries for the exhibition may be directed to newcastle@bidbarn.com.au.