The giant mural in the main street of Yass honouring artist Kim Nelson. The mural, featuring a montage of the artist’s most famous works, was created by his niece, Katherine Nelson. It also features Kim Nelson at work in the left-hand corner. Photo: Caitlin Nelson.
Yass Valley artist Kim Nelson was larger than life so it made the best sense that when his community wanted to honour him they did so in the form of a giant public mural on a wall in the main street of town.
The mural, measuring about 6 metres long by 4.5 metres high, is painted on the side of the historic Oddfellows’ Hall in the main street of Yass, where Kim Nelson once had a studio. The heritage hall building was owned by Kim’s long‐time friend Rosemary Hodgkinson, who died last year.
When Nelson died suddenly in 2015, it left a deep void across the region for a man not only known for his artwork, but for his generosity, mentorship and tireless advocacy for the Yass Valley.
His community responded, honouring him through public memorials, exhibitions, music and now, a landmark mural.
The mural was created by his niece, artist Katherine Nelson, in collaboration with his daughter Caitlin.
It draws on the artist’s signature motifs – Burnt Sienna (a female figure in a white dress), The Red Shawl (a recurring motif in his work) and the Fertile Vale (a Yass Valley landscape – a region the artist cherished and frequently painted).
A special feature of the mural is Katherine’s painting of Kim on the bottom left section of the painting, taken from his self-portrait artwork Tendine. “It’s uncle Kim helping with the mural,” Katherine said.
Her approach honours Kim’s symbolism while introducing her own artistic style, creating a bridge between generations of family artists – Kim’s uncle was renowned Australian landscape artist, Leonard Long OAM.
Caitlin Nelson said her father always reckoned the Oddfellows Hall was an excellent spot for a mural.
When Region interviewed Kim Nelson more than a decade ago when he was working and exhibiting his art in the Oddfellows Hall, he joked: “It’s the perfect place for me to work as I’ve always been a bit of an odd fellow.”
Kim Nelson in his studio at the Oddfellows Hall. The artist was never prouder than when promoting the Yass Valley. Photo: Nelson family.
Caitlin said after her father died, the idea of the mural “was one of the ideas we were throwing around with the YASSarts committee, and Katherine and I have been talking about it and drawing designs for years.”
She said she felt proud and impressed when she saw the completed version. “My amazing cousin did that,” she said.
“Honouring the work and style of my incredible dad. Such a special honouring of family, art and community.”
The Yass community has responded positively to the town’s latest landmark, with more than 400 positive reactions so far on the Yass Noticeboard Facebook page.
Artist Katherine Nelson shows an example of her uncle Kim’s work while perched on the scissor lift to paint the mural. Photo: Caitlin Nelson.
“People even shouted out encouragement to Katherine while she was up painting on the scissor lift,” Caitlin said, adding that there had not been a negative comment.
She said the project would not have been possible without community support, including Southern Tablelands Arts (funding), YASSarts (funding), Dulux Australia (paint), Agnew Hire Yass (scissor lift donation), Ross’s Relics (access to the space), Yass Valley Council (heritage approvals) and the Hodgkinson family (building owners).
“The mural stands as a testament to the community’s commitment to honouring Kim Nelson’s artistic legacy and ensuring his contributions continue to inspire future generations,” she said.
