News

Congratulations to Dean Brown who is a finalist in the 2016 Archibald Prize for his portrait of the artist McLean Edwards.

McLean Edwards is an artist known for his bold use of colour in theatrical, darkly humorous figurative paintings. He is a five-time Archibald finalist.

‘I’ve been a great admirer of McLean Edwards’ work from the first moment I saw it. I was instantly captivated by the themes and narratives that seemed to exist in his visual world. I feel his work is truly individual,’ says Dean Brown.

‘McLean has been a friend and mentor to me for a number of years and I have wanted to paint his portrait for some time. He can be incredibly animated and theatrical, with an intense gaze, and I felt that would make for a dramatically expressive portrait if I could capture it.

‘I painted the portrait from the vantage point of his studio mezzanine. I turned all the lights off and spot lit him as if he were an actor on stage. The number 44 in the bottom right-hand corner is a tongue-in-cheek homage to the way he signs his work, not with his signature but his age when he painted it. I have appropriated his concept as a sign of respect.’

The Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait, 'preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia’.

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IMAGE

'McLean Edwards' 2016

oil on board

93 x 73 cm

John Aslanidis has been curated into War – A Playground Perspective. This exhibition is presented within the historic Newington Armory exploring the human propensity for violent conflict and war as seen from the perspective of 28 leading Australian artists. Understandings of war and the human impulse for conflict are at the core of the exhibition curated by UNSW Art & Design lecturer Allan Giddy and graduate Nick Vickers. This exhibition is an opportunity for artists to examine aspects of human nature that are deeply embedded in communal psyche – territorialism and conflict.

The exhibition is current 14 May – 14 August.

For more details, click here.

The IN/OUT design blog features an article on Marisa Purcell’s ‘Screen’, an exhibition of new paintings. Katrina Arent writes, ‘Abstract art is deeply engaged with science and the natural universe and yet not always in specific ways that are readily apparent. Discovering ways to articulate these often complex ideas provides the central motivation for artist Marisa Purcell…  Intangible concepts about the nature of reality, coupled with the open-ended process of making an artwork, gives rise to paintings that provoke thought and engage the senses.’ Read the full article here. 

The exhibition is current until 11 June, 2016. For a copy of the catalogue, please email [email protected] or view the exhibition online.

Congratulations to Stefan Dunlop who is a finalist in the Caloundra Regional Gallery's Sunshine Coast Art Prize. The prize is a national contemporary two-dimensional award with an acquisitive prize of $25,000 plus a studio residency at Montville Country Cabins. The winner will be announced on 1 September 2016.

IMAGE:
Stefan Dunlop
Stairs 2015
oil on linen
147 x 117 cm

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Belem Lett has been selected as a finalist in two awards – the Sunshine Coast Art Prize, which offers a major acquisitive prize of $25,000, plus an artist studio residency, and the Chippendale New World Art Prize, where the winner will receive a $10,000 residency grant at the Arte Studio Ginestrelle Retreat at Mount Subasio, Italy. The Chippendale New World Art Prize winner will be announced 2 June, and the Sunshine Coast Art Prize winner will be announced 1 September, 2016.

Congratulations to John Aslanidis who is the recipient of this years $20,000 International Studio & Curatorial Program Australia Council Residency in New York. The program supports the creative development of artists and curators, and promotes exchange through residencies and public programs. The ISCP is housed in a former factory in Brooklyn where, since 1994, over 1,200 artists and curators from 62 countries have undertaken residencies. For more information, click here. To view John’s available works, click here.

Congratulations to Belynda Henry who is a finalist in the 2016 Archibald Art Prize.

The Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait, 'preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia’.

Henry painted Louise Olsen co-founded Dinosaur Designs in 1985. She is a creative director and designer at the company with her partner Stephen Ormandy and the daughter of artists John Olsen and Valerie Strong.

Henry says ‘I met Valerie over 25 years ago through a series of evening painting classes. Through Valerie, I was introduced to the work of John Olsen. Both have inspired me greatly as an artist. Watching from afar as Louise co-created Dinosaur Designs, I always felt a link to her even though I didn’t know her.'

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Louise Olsen, a beautiful summary
acrylic and pastel on polyester canvas
157 x 116 cm

The Wynne Prize is awarded annually for 'the best landscape painting of Australian scenery in oils or watercolours or for the best example of figure sculpture by Australian artists’. Congratulations to Belynda Henry who is a finalist in the 2016 Wynne Art Prize.

Henry has a fascination with the Australian landscape which is the main inspiration for her work. Living at the end of a secluded valley on the NSW Central Coast, Henry is always subconsciously gathering the natural shapes, flashes of colour and composition of the mountains and trees that surround her.

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Islands Five 2016
acrylic and pastel on polyester canvas
218 x 171.5 cm

Congratulations to Julian Meagher who has been selected as a finalist in the 2016 Gold Award at Rockhampton Art Gallery. The Gold Award is a national invitation painting award with an acquisitive cash prize of $50,000 made possible through a generous bequest from the Estate of Moya Gold. The winning artist will be announced by Chris Saines, Director Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. 

The exhibition is current from 23 July – 4 September 2016.

Vipoo Srivilasa’s solo exhibition ‘Red-Eared Slider’ is currently underway at the Subhashok The Art Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.

The ‘Red-Eared Slider’ is a turtle native to the United State and feral across the globe. Originally introduced by a Japanese trader in Thailand, these red-eared turtles disrupt the natural ecology of Thai waters, threatening the native freshwater turtles. For Vipoo, who divides his time between Bangkok and Melbourne, the red-eared turtle represents the disregard humans have for their environment.

The exhibition is current to 30 April, 2016.

Click here for more information.