BRIAN ROBERTS Flinders Dreaming BREEWOOD GALLERIES RICHMOND August 4 to September 2 2005 “Brian Roberts has created a body of work which locates his expressionist and painterly technique developed over the past thirty years and places it in a contemporary context. His current interest in the metaphorical meaning of navigation symbols that allow safe passage on a journey of discovery is brought to fruition in this latest series of oil paintings. The thrill of possible discovery, obstacles and barriers to success, hardship and bravery are all sensed in Brian's response to Matthew Flinders’ journal.” Therese Kenyon Director, Manly Art Gallery and Museum BRIAN ROBERTS BIOGRAPHIC NOTE Brian Roberts studied painting and graphic design at the Melbourne College of Graphic Arts as part of a seven year printing apprenticeship at The Herald and Weekly Times in Melbourne. On completion of his course he travelled to London where he worked as an illustrator, art director, painter and film maker. From England Brian moved to the USA where he continued his career in television, film making and painting. On returning to Australia he continued for a time as a film producer/director in the advertising industry until he opened Impressions Gallery, and later Signed Editions Gallery in Melbourne. In 1996 he was a demonstrator at Avondale College, Cooranbong and took part in the Artist-in-Residence Program at Maitland City Art Gallery. From 1997 to 1999 he conducted painting workshops at Maitland City Art Gallery and Willandra Art Centre in Sydney. SOLO EXHIBITIONS 1991 Duke of Wellington Gallery, Sydney 1992 Manning Regional Gallery, Taree Duke of Wellington Gallery, Sydney 1993 Duke of Wellington Gallery, Sydney 1994 Duke of Wellington Gallery, Sydney Mary Reibey Gallery, Sydney; 1995 Power and Pleasure, von Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle; Kenthurst Galleries, Kenthurst; Duke of Wellington Gallery, Sydney 1996 Newcastle Club, Newcastle 1997 The Spirit of Newcastle, von Bertouch Galleries 1998 The Private Gallery, Sydney 1999 Symbols of the Harbour, von Bertouch Galleries British Aerospace Newcastle - foyer display for opening of research facility 2000 Symbols of the Harbour and Forests, Breewood Galleries, Leura 2001 Coastal Icons, von Bertouch Galleries Newcastle Coastal Icons, MIRA Fine Art Gallery, Melbourne 2002 Icons Coast and Forest, Breewood Galleries, Leura; Icons Coast and Harbour, Gallery 460, Gosford 2003 Iconic Encounters, The Hunter Street Gallery, Parramatta 2004 Undercurrents, curated by Gavin Wilson, Maitland Regional Gallery, (in conjunction with Shirley Cameron-Roberts and Therese Kenyon) SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 1958 Group exhibition organized by Young and Rubicam London, Paris, New York 1961 Studio/gallery Brooklyn Heights, New York until 1964 1964 Painted and taught in Chicago, USA until1966 1989 Artarmon and Mosman Galleries, Sydney 1990 Artarmon and Mosman Galleries, Sydney 1991 Duke of Wellington Gallery, Sydney 1992 Duke of Wellington Gallery, Sydney 1993 Selections, von Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle; 1994 Survey of Men Artists of the Hunter Region, Maitland City Art Gallery 1995 Two Artists from the Hunter, Butterflies Gallery, Pokolbin; Newcastle Environmental Art Award, von Bertouch Galleries; Solander Gallery, Canberra; The Nobbys Collection, Newcastle Region Art Gallery 1996 Artistic Relationships Number 2, Maitland City Art Gallery; 1997 Kenthurst Gallery, Kenthurst 1998 The Third Redlands Westpac Art Prize, Sydney; Rites of the River Festival and Art Trail, Maitland Central Business District 1999 Thoughts on the End of the Second Millennium, Maitland City Art Gallery 2000 Fragments from the Forest to the Sea, North Sydney Fine Art Gallery, Sydney; Brave New World? A Statement, Maitland City Art Gallery; Newcastle-Ube 20th Anniversary Exhibition Ube, Japan then Newcastle Art Space 2001 The Centenary of Federation, Maitland City Art Gallery Formative Years, Butterflies Gallery, Pokolbin 2002 Bridging the Divide, Maitland City Art Gallery 2003 Heritage Newcastle Landscapes Urban and Rural, von Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle Selections from the von Bertouch Collection, von Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle Hidden Treasures, Grand opening of the new Maitland Regional Gallery, Maitland COLLECTIONS • Artbank • Reserve Bank of Australia, London • Microsoft Corporation • PMI Mortgage Insurance, AMP Building, Sydney • Resmed Ltd, Sydney • Maitland City Art Gallery • Liverpool City Council • Newcastle Port Corporation • Glencore Australia Pty Ltd, Sydney • CHUBU Electric Power Co Ltd, Japan • The Nobbys Collection, Newcastle • The Newcastle Club, Newcastle • Holiday Inn Esplanade, Newcastle • Coalbridge Pty Ltd, Newcastle • Peach Advertising Pty Ltd, Newcastle • Structural Steel, Newcastle • Private collections in the USA, Canada, Europe Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia COMMISSIONS 1994 The Newcastle Club; Carrington Coal Pty Ltd and Coalbridge Pty Ltd, Newcastle, various 1997 Structural Steel, Newcastle 1998 Newcastle Port Corporation, Newcastle 1999 Resmed Ltd, Sydney 2000 Private commission through Australian Art Link 2001 PMI Mortgage Insurance, AMP Building, Sydney 2003 WAM Projects Pty Ltd PRIZES/AWARDS 1992 First Prize Liverpool, acquisitive 1993 Special Prize, Newcastle, a Newcastle Region Theme 1994 First Prize, Drawing, Newcastle 1996 Second Prize, Rural Section, Royal Easter Show 1999 Second Prize, Painting, Newcastle Show Second Prize, Marine Section, Royal Show, Sydney 2001 The Maitland Art Prize, acquisitive 2002 First Prize, Rural Section, Royal Show, Sydney 2003 The Maitland Art Prize, acquisitive, dual winner PUBLICATIONS Kevin Brown and Mark Jurisich, The Nobbys Collection, 1993 Wine label for the Newcastle Club, 1994 Jill Stowell, Review, The Newcastle Herald, August 1995 and August 1997 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Visitors Guide, 1996, front cover, oil painting, ‘Harbour Glow’ Artist Profile, Annandale Printing Gallery Guide, Issue 7, August 1997 Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Visitors Guide, 1997 front cover, oil painting, “Leaving Newcastle Harbour’ Australian Coal Report, 1998 edition, the oil painting ‘Movement Afloat, Newcastle Harbour’ reproduced on the front cover Newcastle Port Corporation Annual Report, 1998, the oil painting, ‘Harbour and Industry’ reproduced on inside front cover and details reproduced throughout the publication Jill Stowell, Take in Harbour Views, The Newcastle Herald, Saturday, September 11, 1999 The Maitland Mercury Monday February 12, 2001 p5 Jill Stowell, Grey Power, The Newcastle Herald Weekender, April14, 2001 Winners and Losers, Bob Birch, The Newcastle Herald Weekender, February 15, 2003 Tim Dick, Spotlight, The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday August 4, 2003 Time Out, Clare Harvey, Parramatta Advertiser, July 30, 2003 The Life of Brian, Parramatta Sun, Wednesday July 30, 2003 Catalogue, Undercurrents, Essay Gavin Wilson, Maitland Gallery, 2004