The Next Chapter for Tusk Gallery: A New Online Direction with Familiar Faces

After several transformative years, Tusk Gallery is entering a new phase.

We’ve been quiet for a while—transitioning from our physical gallery spaces in Melbourne to a more focused online presence. But behind the scenes, we’ve been reflecting, planning, and laying the foundation for something new. This blog marks the beginning of a series where we reconnect with our roots, revisit the artists we love, and reintroduce our collection to a wider audience.

Back in 2008, I began travelling to Thailand and became captivated by the emerging Thai contemporary art scene. There was an energy and authenticity that I hadn’t seen elsewhere—raw, inventive, deeply cultural, and visually compelling. I began forming relationships with artists whose work I believed in—artists who have since gone on to enjoy international recognition and success.

Here are just a few of the artists whose early works still sit in our collection—pieces we acquired before their careers skyrocketed:

Attasit Pokpong

With his unforgettable large-scale portraits of dreamy-eyed women, Attasit Pokpong is now one of the most recognised names in Thai contemporary art. His signature watercolour and oil techniques blur realism and stylisation, creating an ethereal quality that has become his hallmark. Today, his work is exhibited globally, with collectors across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. We still hold several early pieces that reflect his evolution from promising talent to international star.

Kitti Narod

Kitti’s cheerful and deceptively simple paintings capture moments of everyday joy—people swimming, cycling, dancing—imbued with colour, humour, and warmth. His work now graces galleries and collections from Tokyo to New York, and his career trajectory over the past decade has been nothing short of inspiring. Kitti’s art has always had a universal appeal, but it’s his authenticity and unique visual language that have made him so sought after.

John Martono

Hailing from Indonesia, John Martono fuses textile art with fine art in a way that’s uniquely his own. His silk-thread and paint-on-silk compositions ripple with movement, emotion, and detail. In 2014, we brought John and his wife Citra to Melbourne for a landmark solo exhibition at our South Yarra gallery—an event that helped catapult him into broader international recognition. Today, he continues to exhibit around the world while staying deeply connected to his roots in Bandung.

Patcharapon Tangruen (Alex Face)

Perhaps the most recognisable street artist in Thailand, Alex Face is the creator of “Mardi,” the half-sleepy, third-eyed child seen on walls from Bangkok to Berlin. Initially known for his graffiti, Patcharapon’s transition to gallery spaces has only amplified his cultural impact. With works that speak to both innocence and social unrest, he’s become a bridge between street culture and high art. His early pieces reflect a more introspective style that predated his current global fame.

Looking Ahead

What’s next for Tusk Gallery?

We’re in the process of upgrading our website, cataloguing our collection, and presenting these early works in a way that honours both the artists and the collectors who follow them. Our aim is to shine a light on these pieces—many of which are no longer available elsewhere—and share the stories behind them.

We also plan to return to the physical art world through select art fairs and pop-up events, beginning next year. But for now, this blog is our way of opening the vault and inviting you back into the world of Tusk Gallery—where art, connection, and story have always been at the heart of what we do.