World of Wonder: Margot McKinney

For four generations, the McKinney family name has been synonymous with luxury jewels. However, it is Margot herself who has elevated that name to soaring new heights through her own jewellery brand, and flagship store in Brisbane. With a practice that is rooted deeply in nurturing long-term relationships with suppliers, Margot has worked with leading pearl farmers, opal experts, and gem-cutters across the globe to secure the rare and precious materials that have been the centrepiece of her designs. The one-of-a-kind pieces are coveted by an international clientele and stocked by the prestigious Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores in the USA. The exhibition unearths stories about Margot’s illustrious career and the miracles of nature that make up her designs.

From the coral reef in our own backyard to the rich palette of colours found on safari in Tanzania, this exhibition will be a mesmerising celebration of the complex and profoundly beautiful environments and materials that have inspired her designs. Here you’ll find opulent opals, lustrous pearls and rare gems like the intensely blue tanzanite, lilac amethyst and pink tourmalines.

World of Wonder is the fourth exhibition in MoB’s identity series that celebrates creative greats who call Brisbane home, including Mao’s Last Dancer the Exhibition: A Portrait of Li Cunxin, a spotlight on designers Pamela Easton and Lydia Pearson for Pattern & Print: Easton Pearson Archive, and High Rotation – an exhibition celebrating over 100 musicians over the last three decades. Join us as we journey through a treasure trove of memories and mastery and let Margot’s designs and inspiration transport you to a world of wonder.

Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this exhibition contains images of deceased persons.

Sensory warning: This exhibition contains large-scale video projections and reflective mirrored surfaces. View the venue map.