In a world-first exhibition, some of the most treasured manuscripts and iconic portraits of British literary giants have arrived on the Gold Coast as Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London prepares to open at HOTA, Home of the Arts.
Opening this Saturday, the landmark exhibition invites audiences to step inside the worlds of literary legends such as William Blake, Jane Austen, JRR Tolkien, Lord Byron and Salman Rushdie, among many others.
Curated in collaboration with prominent London institutions, the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, Writers Revealed showcases over 100 literary artefacts and stunning portraits offering rare insights into the minds and lives of some of history’s most celebrated writers.
“Hosting Writers Revealed is further proof HOTA is coming of-age, evolving as a destination locals and visitors can feel extremely proud of,” said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.
Featured artefacts include, including a draft of Dracula by Bram Stoker, John Milton’s publishing contract for Paradise Lost and, letters from Zadie Smith and Kazuo Ishiguro. Among the portraits on show will be, the only painting of Shakespeare made in his lifetime and the portrait of Jane Austen drawn by her sister.
Structured across five thematic sections, the exhibition explores 500 years of authorship, delving deeper into the lives of some of the best-known English language writers through their original works and portraits.
Yarmila Alfonzetti, Head of Arts and Culture, Experience Gold Coast, said the exhibition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Australian audiences. “Writers Revealed is a major coup for the Gold Coast, marking the first time these extraordinary works have been shown together outside of the UK,” she siad.
“To stand before Shakespeare’s portrait or see the handwritten drafts of literary masterpieces is a profound and inspiring experience. We’re inviting visitors to lose themselves in the words, ideas, and creative genius of some of the greatest writers of all time,” said Alfonzetti.
Writers Revealed will be open to the public until 3 August, with an accompanying program of talks, workshops, and special events celebrating storytelling in all its forms over the 16-week exhibition.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the National Portrait Gallery on Writers Revealed, a truly unique exhibition that brings together some of the most exceptional objects from our collections,” said Alexandra Ault, Lead Curator of Modern Archives and Manuscripts at the British Library.
“Visitors to HOTA will experience exquisite manuscripts and literary objects alongside the celebrated portraits of the writers who created them.”
“I am excited to see these incredible items on display in Queensland’s Gold Coast and hope visitors enjoy gaining new insights into some of the most influential writers who helped shape 500 years of English literature,” said Ault.
“This unprecedented collaboration between the National Portrait Gallery and the British Library features world-famous treasures from both collections that rarely leave London,” said Catharine MacLeod, Senior Curator of 17th Century Collections at the National Portrait Gallery.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring these wonderful portraits and literary works to this extraordinary venue in such a beautiful part of Australia. It is a privilege to share our enthusiasm for these authors with visitors to HOTA; we hope that they enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet old literary friends and make new ones,” said MacLeod.
During the opening weekend, the HOTA Gallery will feature a variety of panel talks featuring the two co-curators, Alexandra Ault and Catharine MacLeod, offering a rare insight into the work that goes into bringing an exhibition of this scope together with discussions on their favourite objects and artworks in the exhibition.
Additional events featured in the programming include HOTA’s very own Picnic at Pemberley, and In Conversation events with David Burton, Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb – as they take a deep dive to reveal their own personal reflections and musings of writing, stories and authors.
Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London
Gallery 1 – HOTA Gallery, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
Exhibition: 12 April – 3 August 2025
Entry fees apply
For more information, visit: www.hota.com.au for details.
Images: Oscar Wilde by Napoleon Sarony, Albumen silver print, 1882. © British Library, London | James Joyce by Jacques-Emile Blanche, oil on canvas, 1935. © National Portrait Gallery, London | Virginia Woolf by George Charles Beresford, platinum print, July 1902. © National Portrait Gallery, London | Manuscript for Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Ink on wove paper, 1847. © British Library, London