Lewis Jarvis Harvey (1871–1949) was an important practitioner and teacher in the arts and crafts movement in Queensland and a figure of national significance. Not only an accomplished potter and woodcarver, he was the inspiration of the largest school of art pottery in Australia.

'LJ Harvey and His Times' celebrates the return to Queensland of a large and important collection of material relating to Harvey's career. The collection was inherited by Harvey's daughter, Elsie, and donated to the Gallery by Harvey's twin grandsons, the Reverends David and Bruce Harvey Noble of Houston, Texas. The gift is displayed with paintings and sculptures of the period from the Gallery's Collection.