Robert and Keith completed residencies at the gallery’s Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence Studio, drawing inspiration from objects in Margaret Olley’s recreated home studio at the gallery. The result of their residencies is A Dictionary for Painting, a stunning exhibition on display until March 2, 2025. In this episode, Robert and Keith share their creative highs and lows, offering an intimate glimpse into the making of their works.

Special thanks to Tweed Regional Gallery for recording this event and sound engineer Dan Harcombe for his expertise. A video version of this interview will be online soon – and don’t miss my earlier interview with Robert from 2021, linked below.

Selection of work by Robert Malherbe

Selection of work by Keith Burt

Robert Malherbe (b.1965)
Olley’s table 09 2024
oil on linen
81 x 66 cm
Courtesy of the artist and Jan Murphy Gallery
© The artist

Keith Burt (b.1969)
Bird 2024
oil on canvas
30 x 25cm
Courtesy of the artist and Jan Murphy Gallery
© The artist

Keith Burt (b.1969)
Floral jug 2024
oil on canvas
40 x 40cm
Courtesy of the artist and Jan Murphy Gallery
© The artist

Robert Malherbe (b.1965)
Olley’s table 06 2024
oil on linen
81 x 66 cm
Courtesy of the artist and Jan Murphy Gallery
© The artist

Margaret Olley (1923–2011)
Still life with cornflowers 1995
oil on board
66.9 x 90.1 cm
On loan from University Art Collection, Chau Chak Wing Museum, The University of Sydney
Donated through The Hon R P Meagher bequest 2011
© Margaret Olley Art Trust

Keith Burt
Urban Artists
Oil on canvas
Winner 2020 Brisbane Portrait Prize
84 x 66cm

Robert Malherbe
The Stoic, 2011
oil on linen
76 x 61cm
(Portrait of Nicholas Harding)

Keith Burt (b.1969)
Jar 2024
oil on canvas
40 x 40cm
Courtesy of the artist and Jan Murphy Gallery
© The artist

Keith Burt (b.1969)
Vase 2024
oil on canvas
40 x 40cm
Courtesy of the artist and Jan Murphy Gallery
© The artist

Robert Malherbe (b.1965)
Olley’s table 12 2024
oil on polyester
51 x 41 cm
Courtesy of the artist and Jan Murphy Gallery
© The artist

Famous for being like an Aladdin’s cave of eclectic objects, the recreated home studio contains the sources of many inspirational items which appear in Margaret Olley’s paintings.  Over an astonishing 21,000 items were relocated from Sydney to the gallery.

Ingrid, having been involved in the project almost from its inception, is the ideal person to share insights into the creation of this extraordinary tribute to Olley.

This is the second of three episodes recorded at Tweed Regional Gallery. The previous episode is my conversation with Sophie Perez and Sarah McDonald undertaking a residency at the gallery and the following episode will be my conversation with Robert Malherbe and Keith Burt at the gallery about the exhibition ‘A Dictionary for Painting’.

Photo of Ingrid Hedgcock supplied by Tweed Regional Gallery

‘The Hat Factory’, Margaret Olley Art Centre

‘The Yellow Room’, Margaret Olley Art Centre

See an edited version of this episode (5 mins) on the talking with Painters YouTube channel

An artist’s residency provides more than just uninterrupted time to work; it’s also a valuable space for risk-taking, experimentation, and self-reflection.

That’s what I learned when I caught up with Sophie Perez and Sarah McDonald during my recent visit to the Tweed Regional Gallery. They were there for a residency in the Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence studio. Both are accomplished landscape painters working in oils, have exhibited in solo and group shows across the country and both made the trek across Australia to immerse themselves in this experience – Sophie from Victoria and Sarah from South Australia. It was wonderful to hear their thoughts on the value of the residency and what has come from it. 

This is the first of three podcast episodes which I recorded on my visit to the Tweed Regional Gallery a couple of weeks ago. I was invited to facilitate a conversation in front of an audience with Robert Malherbe and Keith Burt, two leading painters who recently completed funded residencies at the gallery. Their new works, now hanging in the exhibition A Dictionary for Painting, are inspired by objects from Australian art royalty Margaret Olley’s glorious home studio, which has been relocated within the gallery. The gallery recorded the conversation and it will be coming soon to the podcast. I was also lucky enough to have an impromptu chat with gallery director Ingrid Hedgcock, an expert on Margaret Olley, who will be joining me on the next episode.

Links

https://youtu.be/jxJybTWc81s?si=8neVQgRZyTP1x7y6

Wall of Sophie Perez’ work

Wall of Sarah McDonald’s work

Work mentioned by Sarah at about 9min 40s

Work mentioned by Sophie at about 18min 30s

Work mentioned by Sophie at about 21 min

Podcast listeners click here to view the works

There is a strong sense of a spontaneous response in her paintings so you may be surprised to hear that reading and research play as much a role in her process as creating those drips and brushstrokes.

Karen talks with me in this episode about her fascination with recent research on frequencies and vibrations which occur in all matter. That interest informs her most recent body of work which will be on view in her upcoming solo show ‘alternative frequency’ at Ames Yavuz in Sydney.

Karen has been acclaimed with awards and residencies and her work is in the collections of many public institutions. She has been repeatedly shortlisted in the Archibald and Sulman prizes, among many others, and has work hanging in both those prize exhibitions in the Art Gallery of NSW this year. She has also been recognised for her ceramic work, two of which have been acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria.

In this podcast episode Karen talks with me about her childhood memories of art, how she came to painting, the story behind her current show and some interesting aspects of her process.

‘Both of us’
oil on canvas
61 x 92 cm
Finalist Sir John Sulman Prize 2024
Source: AGNSW website

‘Head wind’ 2024,
oil on polyester, 183.3 x 153 cm
Image courtesy of the artist

‘Licking the rain’ 2017
oil on canvas
152.5 x 122 cm
Finalist Sir John Sulman Prize 2017
Source: AGNSW website

‘I Will Shade You from the World’
2022
Oil on canvas
213.6 x 198.5cm
Image courtesy of the artist

Vivian Vidulich
oil on polyester
183 x 152.5 cm
Finalist – Archibald Prize 2024
Source: AGNSW website

‘Crown legs arms’ 2016
earthenware, 23ct gold leaf
69.0 × 29.7 × 29.2 cm
Collection, National Gallery of Victoria

Watch the video version of my interview with Laura Jones here on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel

On Friday I interviewed Laura shortly after the announcement and I’m bringing you that 5 minute conversation in this episode but I’ve also gone through the archives to my podcast conversation with Laura in 2018 to bring you something extra. 

When I interviewed Laura a few years ago it was after she had finished a residency on the Great Barrier Reef where she was studying the terrible bleaching events which occurred there (and continue to occur) and her concern surrounding those events is not unconnected with her winning portrait in this year’s Archibald Prize.

Because it was after seeing Tim Winton’s documentary on the ABC, Ningaloo Nyinggulu, about the fight to save the Ningaloo reef that Laura requested an Archibald portrait sitting. They have in common a sense of urgency that we must act now on climate change and are doing everything they can to bring attention to the devastating and inevitable consequences of inaction.

One of the most interesting parts of my conversation with Laura was when she explained how coral bleaching occurs. It’s complex and scientific but she explained it in a way that anyone could understand so I thought I would bring you that part of the interview today .  

The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes exhibition continues until Sunday 8 September 2024.  The Archibald finalist works then go on tour across 5 venues across NSW and for the first time, to the Northern Territory. The Wynne Prize finalist works will tour to four venues in regional NSW.

Tim Winton
Oil on linen, 198 x 152.5cm
Image: Art Gallery of NSW, Jenni Carter Winner 2024 Archibald Prize

See the video version of this episode on the TWP YouTube channel here. 

This is my 5th collection of Loading Dock Interviews of entrants to the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes.

Six brave painters fronted my camera and microphone as they delivered their work to the packing room at the Art Gallery of NSW via the loading dock.

Thankyou to these artists (tap on their name for their Instagram page):

Tickets for the ‘Artists in Conversation’ talk with me and Marikit Santiago at the Art Gallery of NSW

Sign up for the Talking with Painters Newsletter here. 

https://youtu.be/T-26mfmJMqw?si=L_YMco2XH8Hwwsup

See highlights of this interview on the YouTube Channel

At the risk of being labelled a conspiracy theorist, she’s attracted to the dilemmas brought on by the internet era and shines a light on the things that trouble most of us: our loss of privacy, shortened attention, a heightened focus on appearance,  a growing indifference to human suffering and the increasing power assumed by tech giants.

Her paintings often depict a political or social narrative and although she accepts some are too confronting to hang above the sofa, there’s something about the levity in her use of line, colour and form which invites us to venture into the darker corners of our culture, causing us to linger and question.

Caroline is also well known for her portraiture and landscape painting. She won the Portia Geach Memorial Award portraiture prize in 2020 (the same year she won the Evelyn Chapman award) and has been a finalist in many others including the Archibald and Darling portrait prizes.

This interview took place at the mid-career survey show of Caroline’s work ‘Exquisite Cadaver’ at the University of Newcastle Gallery. Curated by Gillean Shaw, it was a collection of 40 stunning works spanning over 2 decades.

The interview was also filmed and a 6 minute video of highlights can be seen here on the YouTube  channel.

Feature photo:  Phillip Antonio Lemos

https://youtu.be/qW9UOk7RA7I?si=Sc30OmX9unO_Mitu

‘Kubla Khan’
2022
oil on linen
107 x 106.7 cm

‘Exquisite Corpse’
2024
Oil on linen

‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ 2023
oil on linen
138 x 138cm

‘Faceless The Congressional Hearing of Mark Zuckerberg’ 2020
oil on linen
122 x 122cm

‘Man of Few Words’
2020
Ink on AGNSW archive manila folder
30 x 21cm (paper size), 60 x 47cm (framed size)

‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ 2023
Oil on linen
112 x 122cm

‘Plastic Fantastic’, 2023
oil on linen
56 x 62cm

‘Refract Back’, 2023
Oil on linen
112 x122 cm

‘Too Long; Didn’t Read (Universal Declaration of Human Rights)’
2023
Oil, Oil Stick and Digital Configuration on Canvas
97 x 87cm

‘Me and Ellie’, 2004-2005
oil on linen 
71 x 454.5cm
‘My Brother Adrian’ 
oil on linen
72.5 x 54cm

Podcast listeners click here to see images of the work

Over the years, podcast guests have shared some fascinating back stories to paintings they have made, stories which you could never have guessed just on viewing the work.

Sometimes that back story has made me look at the work in a totally different way and I’m bringing you another eight artists’ works in addition to those in ep 155.

Click on the artist’s name below for the full podcast episode (and any YouTube videos) and see images of the works we talk about below.

I dream of Sam Neill when I go to bed, 1986
Davida Allen
National Gallery of Victoria © Davida Allen
Collection: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased 1986 (P22-1986)

Drawings of George Stirling
Jacqui Stockdale

George Stirling from the Heads of the Family series
Jacqui Stockdale

Sam Leach
Machine-assisted memory of Harewood Farm, Meadows
oil on linen
51 x 51 cm

Robin Eley
‘Self Portrait’, 2010, oil on Belgian linen, 39″ x 25″
Runner Up, Doug Moran portrait Prize, 2010

Peter O’Doherty
Edgecliff high rise, 2019, acrylic on canvas, 198x167cm

Kathrin Longhurst
Poster Girl, 2011, oil on canvas
Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Award, 2011

Tom Carment
Where I scattered my father’s ashes, Oratunga, SA
watercolour on paper
45.3 x 52 cm

Nicholas Harding
Robert Drewe (In the swell)
2006
oil on canvas (frame: 140.4 cm x 125.0 cm, support: 138.0 cm x 123.0 cm)
Collection: National Portrait Gallery

Podcast listeners click here to see images of the works

Sometimes that back story has made me look at the work in a totally different way and I’m bringing you a few of those to you in this episode. See images of the works we talk about below.

2:40    ‘Heath’, 2008, oil on canvas, 106 x 140cm (Collection of the Art Gallery of NSW, highly commended and winner of the Archibald Prize People’s Choice award 2008. Portrait of Heath Ledger)

10:40    ‘Baby’, 2015, oil on linen, 105 x 90.5cm (Finalist in Archibald Portrait Prize 2015)

15:45.  ‘Kandahar’ 2011, oil on linen, 140 x 190cm
Photo: Australian War Memorial

18:00   ‘Captain S. after Afghanistan’ 2012, oil on linen, 210 x 230cm
Finalist Archibald Prize 2012
Photo: AGNSW/ Mim Stirling

20:30    ‘Margaret Olley’, 1948, oil on hardboard, 114.3 x 85.7 cm board
Collection: Art Gallery of NSW
Winner Archibald Prize 1948

23:45.    ‘Storm Approaching, Wangi’, 1948, oil on cardboard on composition board, 32.9 x 56cm
Winner Wynne Prize 1948

Podcast guests talk with me about the flow state!

See below for timestamps and links to each guest’s full podcast interview and video

3:39 Julie Nicholson and Fiona Verity – Podcast | Instagram video

6:40 Ann Thomson – Podcast | YouTube

7:54 Joshua Yeldham – Podcast | YouTube

10:15 Antonia Perricone Mrljak – Podcast | YouTube

11:25 Wendy Sharpe – Podcast | YouTube

12:51 Lewis Miller – Podcast | YouTube

13:50 Aida Tomescu – Podcast | YouTube

16:30 David Griggs – Podcast | YouTube

17:27 Idris Murphy – Podcast | YouTube

18:40 Kathrin Longhurst – Podcast | YouTube

20:50 Anthony White – Podcast | YouTube (coming soon)

22:07 Bernard Ollis – Podcast | YouTube

23:59 Kim Leutwyler – Podcast | YouTube

25:20 Tim Maguire – Podcast | YouTube

26:40 Belinda Street – Podcast | YouTube

27:58 Yvette Coppersmith – Podcast | YouTube (coming soon)

29:30 Tim Storrier – Podcast | YouTube

31:15 Jacqui Stockdale – Podcast | YouTube

32:02 Sandi Hester – YouTube

Links 

Sandi Hester interview on the YouTube channel

Sandi Hester’s YouTube channel ‘Bits of an Artist’s life’

Paul Newton YouTube video

TWP Instagram reels – ‘Summer reels from the archives’

Ep  ‘Inspiration from the archives: Colour (1)’

Ep  ‘Inspiration from the archives: Risk’

Subscribe to the Talking with Painters monthly newsletter