It’s rare to find an artist that you truly love. Brett Whiteley, one of Australia’s greatest artists of the 20th century, is my recent re-discovery. It wasn’t until a year ago when I spent a quiet day on my own at one of Sydney’s finest art galleries that I fully appreciated his work. A few steps inside and this is what I saw…

Woman in the Bath, 1964
Brett Whiteley

The void, almost like a never-ending black hole, drew me in but suddenly I was brought to a halt by the distorted perspective. Then the long sensuous curves of the bath tub and figure seemed to free my eyes again. This painting is part of a series of bathroom scenes in London of his wife, Wendy.

Brett Whiteley’s primary subjects were landscapes, still life, the nude, animals, and birds. Sydney’s harbourside and the fast sensation of the street life of New York were captured in his paintings in the late 1960s and early 1970s. After traveling around London, New York, and Fiji he returned to his studio back home in Sydney’s Surry Hills. Definitely a quirky and artsy area full of lofts and cafes. My friends tell me it’s one of the “in” places now.

Self portrait in the studio, 1976
Brett Whiteley

The distorted perspective and expressive nature is reminiscent to me of the great works of Matisse. But you can also see Van Gogh’s influence, which happened as the result of a Van Gogh book discovery that changed Whiteley’s perception of the world around him.

Today you can visit “Sydney’s best kept secret”, the Brett Whiteley Studio. It was his haven from 1988 to 1992 and now exhibitions of his work plus unfinished paintings, collections of reference books, and even his own graffiti on the walls occupies the space. The great Australian artist died in 1992, but his legacy continues by his mother, Beryl Whiteley, who awards a Traveling Art Scholarship each year to a deserving talent.

One of my friends is equally enthralled by Brett Whiteley. I don’t think she’ll have any problems visiting the studio with me on my next trip back home.

Image credits: Brett Whiteley Studio