An Escape to the Past with Laurie McKern’s ‘Lifesaver’

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Sophia Croudace
29/05/2025

“This is the charm of McKern’s work: how she marries the idealised elegance of the past with a contemporary flair and childlike naiveté.”

As the winter chill sets over Sydney, Laurie McKern’s vibrant paintings offer a refuge of nostalgic whimsy. Her newest addition to KAB Gallery Sydney, Lifesaver, harkens a glamorous yet playful vision of a 1940’s swimmer languishing in her bathing suit and swimming cap. It’s a scene surrounded by vivid tropicana and brought to life by McKern’s use of fluorescent green, which adds a contemporary twist to the vintage aesthetics of the piece. I sat down with McKern to discuss the inspiration behind her latest artwork.

‘Lifesaver’ is on display now at KAB Gallery Sydney

The vintage muses which appear ubiquitously in McKern’s work have personal significance to the artist, as she recalled childhood holidays spent with her seamstress-grandmother. Her grandmother’s studio was filled with pen, ink and watercolour drawings of 1930’s and 1940’s bathers donning their beach attire, which McKern tells me inspired her enduring love of retro aesthetics and ‘Tiki’ style.

Artist Laurie McKern with ‘Lifesaver’, Oil on Stretched Canvas, 101x101cm, framed.

This love continues to inform McKern’s artistic practice. In Lifesaver, McKern wanted to juxtapose the sophisticated muse in the foreground against a backdrop of playful linework, reminiscent of Dr Seuss’ illustrations. She describes her intention to create an artwork which was at once “decorative, atmospheric, and joyful.” Lifesaver accomplishes this and more. To look at the painting is to enter a state of nostalgic wonder, glimpsing with a child’s eyes upon impressions of ineffably poised, ‘grown-up’ women. This is the charm of McKern’s work: how she marries the idealised elegance of the past with a contemporary flair and childlike naiveté.

Lifesaver is on display now at KAB Gallery Sydney, 977 Pacific Highway, Pymble 2073. I invite you to step back in time and experience this magnificent painting in-person during our opening hours, from Wednesday and Thursday 11am-4pm, Friday 11am-6pm, and Saturday 10am-3pm. This unique Laurie McKern painting is also available to purchase online here.

For more information, please give us a call at 1300 78 7773 or email us at info@KABGallery.com.au.