CV

 

Education:

1974-1986: All sorts of good stuff from my mum, the artistJ

1990-1992: Art & Design – Southwest college of TAFE, Bunbury, Western Australia

 

A little about me:

I am an Australian artist currently living in Bergen, Norway.

Most of my upbringing was spent on the Southwest coast of Western Australia.

My mother was an artist and teacher, and ensured a creative childhood environment. When we weren’t painting or sculpting, my sister and I were kept occupied with excursions and science projects.

Being a worldly person, she was disposed to bestow in us an awareness of the world beyond our gate, and at the age of 6, took us backpacking on a 3 month tour of Europe, visiting all the major museums and art galleries. The experiences and impressions from this trip were eye opening, and greatly influenced my appreciation for European art and culture.

I don’t remember ever not drawing or painting, but it wasn’t until I was a teenager that I started taking it more seriously, working on larger formats (240×120 particle boards) and exploring alternative mediums. I developed an interest for airbrushing, though missed the texture and imperfections of brushwork. I started combining the two techniques, and at 17, won 3 first prizes in a regional art competition with my “H.R.Giger” influenced impressions of the mother Mary.

As an early adolescent, I diverted from my path and went to work in the gold mines of Western Australia. This was a very dark, yet mind opening period of isolation and a degree of drug abuse. I continued painting in my 2×3 living quarters, and ultimately, painting became my salvation. I started painting my dreams and after 2 years of depression, managed to paint a landscape of my future home (a house in the mountains of a faraway place), moved back to the coast, enrolled in art classes again, and sought psychiatric help.

Shortly after this I met and fell in love with a Norwegian girl. In the late 90′s we travelled Europe, moved to Norway, married and settled down. We bought her childhood home, nestled in the mountains of Bergen, and added an atelier.

Moving to Norway gave me distance to reflect on my experiences in the desert, and through comprehensive research, led to a fascination for quantum physics. A lot of my work since coming here, subtly references the fundamental patterns at work in our lives, and their influence on them. These paintings usually result in frustration and a feeling of inadequacy, and for periods, I will revert to my love of light and form. Currently I am finding inspiration in the decaying houses and buildings around Bergen. 

Other:

Since settling in Norway, I have built a reasonable customer base through exhibitions on the east and west and once, again in Australia. Along with private customers, I have sold to re-furbishing restaurants and borrowed work to hotels. In 2009 I opened a gallery where myself and another artist promote Norwegian artists. We are currently in the process of extending the gallery and have recently converted the adjoining building into studio space for 10 artists.

Apart from my own artistic development, I try to inspire others. In January, I received government funding for an animation project involving 20 primary schools in the Bergen area. Visit http://galleryforrest.com/openyourart for more info.

My recent works have been of medium/ large size formats and have sold for NOK 25,000 – 30,000 (approx – USD 5000)

 

Exhibitions/ Commissions

 

NORWAY

September 2011 – “Owned” at Gallery Forrest, Norway; Joint Exhibition

January 2011 – “Winter Works” at Glesvær Gallery, Norway; Joint Exhibition

November 2010 – “Figurative Light” at Gallery Forrest, Norway; Solo Exhibition

April 2010 – “Selected Works” at First Hotel Marin, Norway; Joint Exhibits

June 2009 – “Fractions of 3 Dimensions” at Gallery Forrest, Norway; Joint Exhibition

September 2006 – “Commission for 8 works” at Potet Kjelleren, Norway; Commission

July 2006 – “Strekens Dans” at Finken, Norway; Solo Exhibition

August 2005 – “Gallery Opening” at Tilsammans, Norway; Solo Exhibition

October 2005 – “Commission for 15 works” at BOHA, Norway; Commission

August 2004 – “Intellectual Fashion” at Northern Soul, Norway; Joint Exhibition

August 2003 – “Selected Works” at The Cut, Norway;

Juni 2002 – “Spirit of Science” at Hvaler Kulturhus, Norway; Solo Exhibition

Mai 2002 – “Commission for 4 works” at R&B Scooter, Norway; Commission

 

AUSTRALIA

June 2008 – “Selected works “ at Yallingup Art Gallery, Yallingup; Joint Exhibition

Oktober 2000 – “Southwest Survey “ at Southwest Regional Art Gallery, Bunbury; Joint Exhibition

February 1999 – “Bunbury Regional Art Show” at Bunbury Show grounds, Bunbury; Joint Exhibition

September 1998 – “Communications” at Perth National Art Gallery, Perth; Joint Exhibition

March 1998 – “Selected Works” at The Barracks Art Gallery, Bunbury; Joint Exhibition

December 1997 – “Construct – Destruct” at Gelorup Council House, Gelorup; Solo Exhibition

August  1997 – “Commission for 5 Wall Murals” at Capel Shire, Capel; Commission

March 1997 – “Commission for 2 works” for Southwest Recycle, Dardanup; Commission

Oktober 1996 – “Southwest Survey” at Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, Bunbury; Joint Exhibition

April 1992 – “Bunbury Regional Art Show” at Bunbury Show grounds, Bunbury; Joint Exhibition