What would you do?
Michael Kiely is dying. When he was told he had stage four cancer, he’d already been living with Parkinson’s Disease for 20 years. This new challenge forced him to square up with his own mortality and answer a tough question:
What would you do if you had three months of life left?
Michael painted. His ill health has given him greater clarity about the importance of doing what we’re meant to do and this exhibition is a call to action to stop waiting for permission. To get up off your knees and start creating before it’s too late.
When Michael was given three months to live, he knew he had to paint. It was creative exploration without expectation – total freedom and totally freeing. For Michael, art is greater than some oil paint on canvas, slung about by an old, dying ad man. He believes the emotions, questions, and answers it stirs in each of us can change the world.
And while abstract art isn’t to everyone’s taste, it is for everyone. Satirising the common refrain from abstract art skeptics, “my kids could do that”, Michael’s debut exhibition embodies the obvious response to such derision – they could, but why haven’t you?
Michael shed his self-doubt when he was given an expiration date. He stopped waiting for permission that was never coming and started painting for the joy of creating for himself.
Now, ask yourself. If you had three months left to live, could you say you’ve lived your best life? Will you get up off your knees and do what you’ve always wanted?
Thank you
Fighting cancer, Parkinsons, painting and trying to curate and organise an exhibition was a bit much work. The exhibition is possible thanks to the generosity and passion of a few special people. Michael’s daughter Jessica has worked tirelessly, channeling her Dad’s passion and resilience, to pull this event together. And our brilliant curator Maria who waded through mountains of Michael’s work to bring you the best.
And the unconditional love and support of his family, friends and anyone reading this, thank you.
From the pen of the artist.....
Here, in Michael's own words and by his own pen, Michael shares with us the seed that has grown into this journey and exhibition.
He is the Marketing Department.
Get up off your knees
Michael Kiely’s spent a lifetime exploring his creativity. He taught history at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, worked with some of the world’s biggest brands as creative director at Ogilvy & Mather. He founded his own marketing company, Boomerang. He played packed gigs at Sydney’s Golden Sheaf in a rock band and wrote a solo album. He used creativity to save farmers from drought with his Adopt a Sheep campaign and fought climate change by establishing Carbon Farmers of Australia. And, most importantly, he created a family with his wife Louisa.
Michael didn’t pick up a paintbrush until later in life, and then, later in life became late in life. When he discovered he had stage four Kidney Cancer, he’d been living with Parkinson’s Disease for 20 years. Ever the fighter, Michael had successful immunotherapy treatment and beat cancer with a wry grin and paint on his hands. Having outlived one lifetime, there was one clear lesson from his prognosis: get up off your knees and paint.
“I’m not going to be here much longer. My artwork is a gift – a reminder to get up off your knees and become the person you’re meant to be. Abstract art is often derided, my kids could do that, they say. Yes, but they didn’t and you haven’t. Yet. It’s never too late to stand up and start what you were put on Earth to do.”
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Michael’s dying. The idea that his artwork will survive and inspire people to go after their dreams thrills him to his heart. Of course, he’s a touch more cavalier about it. “Do yourself and an old man a favour, buy my art before I die. I want to see these pieces going home with people. And just think, as soon as I cark it, they all become limited edition.”
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