Jeffrey Smart - self portrait
Jeffrey Smart was born in Adelaide, Australia in 1921. He has traveled, lived and studied art in Europe. He is not a prolific artist but his work in internationally recognized and acclaimed. He is often referred to as Australia’s greatest living artist.
When I think of Jeffrey Smart, I think of urban landscapes that use dramatic colors. At times in viewing his work, I feel I am being transported to the surreal. It is my understanding though that he rejects the surreal label by saying that he is painting the world of today. His paintings can at times be seen as a commentary on modern life in an urban wasteland.
While, there is a serious side to his painting, the almost cartoonish rendering of it takes away the hard, incredibly bleak edge that it could have. His paintings demonstrate an influence of classical art and a curiosity about architecture that I find very attractive and interesting.
He currently lives in Italy where he has lived with his partner for the past 40 years.
Reference:
http://travelinsider.qantas.com.au/jeffrey_smart_tuscany.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Smart
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Smart
I recently ran across the works of Ross Watson. He is both a photographer and a painter and resides in Melbourne, Australia. Much of his work references the classical masters and also incorporates portraits of modern gay icons. It’s allegorical, romantic, and is incredibly beautiful. He is considered a leader in contemporary realism.