Ken Done Brings His World of Colour to Designer Rugs

Five handknotted designs draw on the Australian artist’s love of beaches and reefs.

Ken Done has partnered with Designer Rugs on an exclusive collection of five handknotted rugs, translating his paintings of beaches, reefs and underwater life into 100% wool. Cadmium Coral Head, December Beach, Jade Coral Head, Big Black Reef and No. 8 capture the colour and expressive brushstrokes that make Done’s work instantly recognisable. For Done, the partnership offered the chance to work with another Australian design business with family at its heart. “We love the parallels in our brands, both original Australian design businesses with family at their heart,” he says.

Yosi Tal, Designer Rugs & Ken Done

For Christine McDonald, the project’s lead designer from the Designer Rugs Design Studio, Done was the first choice for the collaboration. “We wanted an icon, an Australian legend whose work would resonate across generations. The first person who came to mind was Ken Done,” she says. “I’ve admired his talent and ever evolving artwork since I was young, so he felt like a natural choice.”

A Shared Vision

Done worked closely with the Designer Rugs Design Studio to select the paintings and colour palettes. 
Each artwork needed to translate successfully into a handknotted rug, while contributing to a collection with a balance of colours and compositions. “It was very hard to choose! We started with works that we loved, and would reproduce well in a rug format, and then made sure there was a balance of colourways within the collection,” says Done.

The works share subjects he returns to throughout his practice. Done describes their connection as “the colour and forms of the natural world, and the beauty that can be found under water”, a constant source of inspiration for his paintings.

Translating Paint Into Wool

Reproducing Done’s paintings required close attention to both colour and brushwork. Christine carefully selected colour combinations and interpreted his brushstrokes to preserve the detail and movement of the originals in handknotted wool. “His artwork has so much character,” she says. McDonald describes how the rugs bring another dimension to the paintings through colour, texture and the artistry of handknotting.

Done remained involved throughout, while trusting the studio’s expertise in rug design. “It’s been a true collaboration between our studios. We were very involved in the selection of the works and the colour palettes,” he says. Done credits the Designer Rugs team’s skill and sensitivity in translating the paintings into rugs.

Colour accuracy was his highest priority, and the finished rugs delivered what he had hoped for. “I was thrilled! The attention to detail and the accuracy of the colours was perfect,” says Done. “They are an incredibly talented team, and their ability to reproduce the subtleties of brushstrokes and colour is amazing.”
 

Behind The Designs 

Cadmium Coral Head captures sunlight filtering down onto a reef through soft pinks, yellows and blues. Done chose a slightly unexpected palette to convey the light beneath the water. In December Beach, figures on the sand become small bursts of colour against a soft pink background. “The graphic pattern of figures on the sand has always been a creative inspiration to me,” he says. Jade Coral Head explores rich blues, turquoise and purple. As Done explains, “A deeper dive takes you into a darker, richer colour spectrum.” Big Black Reef takes a more abstract approach, with bright underwater forms set against black to intensify their colour. “Art can be a wonderful game. Here I was playing with more abstract graphic underwater forms, and using the black background to really illuminate the colour.”                                                                                                             
For Done, No. 8 may find a place in his own living room. “They are all wonderful but I think that No. 8 may end up in our house,” he says. He explains that the artwork in his living room changes constantly depending on what he has been working on in the studio, and this design would complement any of those paintings.

Art at Home 

Done has long embraced opportunities for people to live with his art. The collection takes his paintings from the wall to the floor, adding the texture of handknotted wool. “I’ve always believed that art should be available to everyone, whether it’s on your wall, your floor or yourself!” he says. For Christine, the connection to Done’s work is personal, having grown up with his doona covers in the 1980s. “I hope people will reminisce, discover and connect with the collection, just as they do with his unmistakable artwork,” she says. “These are pieces that can make a real statement in a space while still being beautiful works of art.”

The collaboration also reflects his continued enjoyment of exploring different ways to share his work. “It’s always an enjoyable challenge and a wonderful opportunity to work with people I respect,” says Done. Asked what he found most rewarding about the partnership, he adds: “Apart from the brilliance of the finished product, it’s been meeting and working with some really lovely people.” For Designer Rugs, the collection continues a history of collaborations with Australian creatives, including Harry Seidler, Akira Isogawa, Catherine Martin and Dinosaur Designs. Asked what makes a rug a piece of art rather than simply something functional, Done offers a practical test: “Perhaps a slight reluctance to put any furniture on it?”

  

About Designer Rugs

For over 40 years, Designer Rugs has defined luxury underfoot in Australia. Renowned for custom and bespoke designs, as well as exclusive collaborations with acclaimed designers and artists, Designer Rugs creates extraordinary pieces that redefine interiors. With an unwavering commitment to artistry and innovation, each collection is thoughtfully designed to inspire interior designers, architects, and design lovers alike.

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