BRUCE EARLES
Born in 1953, Earles’ first forays into formal art education came via Monash Uni in Melbourne in 1979 where he earned his Grad Diploma in Art Education. He rejoined academia in the late 90’s and was awarded his Masters (Hons) from Western Sydney Uni in 1998, and a doctorate in 2002. He’s the epitome of what you’d call a professional artist.
In between his uni careers Earles embarked on his true artist’s life education. Like many artists Earles was captivated by New York, eventually settling here after his original tour of the US and resulting first major Melbourne exhibition. Bruce’s own personal sense of being in a place cannot help but carry through to his works. Whilst some say his current offerings are distinctly Australian, others say that the sense of place and being absorbed within the canvas are idiosyncratically Bruce Earles domain.
His influence upon the local art scene is profound. From the start he was a member of the Fringe Arts Group and ArtWorkers’ Union. He later became a member of the infamous ROAR collective in 1982 which sought to breakaway from the conventional art scene at the tome. It was here that he really came into his own, pioneering his distinctive, bold style.
‘Uplifting narratives and riotous colour define Earles’ naive 'Roar' painting style. Richly textured, his stylistic works explore the potential for a harmonious and celebratory community identity. Sweeping his canvas with an infectious enthusiasm for life, Earles continues to display the passion and exuberance from the heady days of the ‘Roar’ collective and the influences of New York City, along the way, adding in the patience for detail.’ Art Nomad.
And it’s this style of work that we know and love today. With maturity Earles has refined and developed his aesthetic to a point that he is one of the most collectable, enjoyed, shared and loved Australian modern artists.
'BIG TIME'
Recent Works by Bruce Earles
The balance of work and leisure, personal and public spaces, urban and holiday places provide the backdrop for this series of highly textured, visually impactful oil paintings.
My doctoral investigation with the University of Western Sydney explored the consequences of urbanism: human alienation, personal detachment, anonymity and place bereft individuals. Further artworks documented contemporary life exploring the cultural dimensions of place. These included the interdependence of psychological and physical space, place identity and place panic.
The interconnectivity of place with personal perceptions and regional characteristics remain an important aspect of these works suggested through the use of brilliant colour and emotional immediacy.
BRUCE EARLES
Education
2002 Doctor of Creative Arts University of Western Sydney
1998 Master of Arts University of Western Sydney
1996 Master of Educational Studies Monash University
1989 Graduate Diploma in Special Education Melbourne University
1979 Graduate Diploma in Art Education Monash University
1973 Diploma of Teaching Monash University
Awards
2001 University of Western Sydney Research Grant
2001 University of Western Sydney Top Up Award
2000 Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant New York
2000 Artist in Residence, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
1999 Artist in Residence, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
1995 Australian Postgraduate Award
1979 Flinders Art Award
1978 Shire of Flinders Acquisitive Award
Represented
Artistry Galleries Melbourne
Trevor Victor Harvey Sydney
Soho Galleries Sydney
LK Galleries Perth
Anthea Polson Gold Coast
Art Images Adelaide
Red Sea Gallery Brisbane, Singapore
Collections
National Australia Bank
St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
University of Western Sydney
Monash UniversityMildwaters Warwickshire England
Exhibitions
2016 BIG TIME, Soho Galleries Sydney
2013 ALL THE BEST EXHIBITION Soho Galleries, Sydney
2012 Soho Galleries, Sydney
2011 Soho Galleries, Sydney
2010 Lk Contemporary Perth
Art Images Adelaide
Artistry/Hogan Galleries Melbourne
2009 Linton and Kay Contemporary Perth
Artistry Galleries Melbourne
Trevor Victor Harvey Sydney
2008 Schuberts Contemporary Gold Coast
Art Images Adelaide
Trevor Victor Harvey Sydney
Artistry Galleries Melbourne
Linton and Kay Contemporary Perth
2007 Artistry Galleries Melbourne
House of Phillips Fine Art Sydney
Paul Gullotti Gallery Perth
2006 Art Images Gallery Adelaide
Paul Gullotti Gallery Perth
2005 Goya Galleries Melbourne
Qdos Gallery Lorne
2000-04 Goya Galleries Melbourne
2000-02 Dagmar Art Consultants Melbourne
1999 Maling Gallery Casula Powerhouse Sydney
1998 YZ Gallery University of Western Sydney
1995-97 Hogan Gallery Melbourne
1998 Aikenhead Gallery St. Vincents Hospital Melbourne
1991 Maska International Gallery Pioneer Sq. Seattle
1985 Central Park New York
1983-86 Roar Studios Melbourne
1982 Chrysalis Gallery Port Melbourne
1978-81 Peninsula Galleries Portsea Melbourne
1973 Monash University Frankston
Group Exhibitions
2010 Trevor Victor Harvey Sydney
2009 Art Melbourne
Many Arts Festival
2008 Star Gallery Chicago
2007 Goya Galleries International New York
Shanghai Art Fair
Ho Gallery Melbourne
Art International Associates New York
Libby Edwards Brisbane, Sydney
Australian National Pavillion
Beijing China
Art Images Adelaide
2005 Goya Galleries Melbourne
Art Sydney
Hogan Gallery Tsunami Appeal Melbourne
2004 Melbourne Art Fair
Post Gallery Melbourne
Manyung Gallery Mt. Eliza
2003 Sydney Affordable Art Fair
2003 Sydney Art Fair
2002 Melbourne Contemporary Art Fair
2001 Penrith Regional Gallery Sydney
2000 Williamstown Contemporary Arts Festival Melbourne
1999 Goya Galleries Melbourne
Williamstown Contemporary Arts Melbourne
Open Space Gallery Melbourne
1997 Rupert Bunny 3 City of Port Phillip Melbourne
1996 Fringe Festival Melbourne
1994 Victorian Artists Society
Roar 2 Studios Melbourne
1993 Australian Contemporary Arts Fair Melbourne
1992 Ten Years After Roar Studios Melbourne
1991 Aurora Gallery Anchorage Alaska
1987 Emerging Collector East Village New York
Bad Gallery Melbourne
1986 Roar Studios Melbourne
1985 Gallery 212 Waseda Tokyo
The Fight Shinjuku Tokyo
Now Gallery New York
1984 Fringe Arts Festival Melbourne
Roar Studios Melbourne
1983 Roar Studios Melbourne
Fringe Arts Festival Melbourne
1982 Artworkers Union Trades Hall Melbourne
1981 Australian Council Trade Union RMIT Melbourne
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery Melbourne
1980 Peninsula Galleries Portsea
1979 Flinders Art show
1976 Shire of Flinders Art Exhibiton
Publications Articles and Reviews
2008 Top 5 Guide Website, 18 June 2008
Today The West Australian, 18 June 2008
Radio RTR interview 19 June 2008
RTR’s Morning Magazine June 19-July 5 2008
Voice News ShortArts, 21 June 2008
Xpress Magazine Eye4:Arts/Eye2:Eye, 26 June 2008
West Online Website, 26 June 2008
The West Australian, Seven Days, 28 June 2008
Subiaco Post, Timeout, 28 June 2008
Cambridge Post, Timeout, 28 June 2008
Mosman/Cottesloe Post, Timeout, 28 June 2008
Clairemont/Nedlands Post, Timeout, 28 June 2008
The Sunday Times, STM Entertainent, 29 June 2008
Herald Sun, 9 July 2008, Page 51
Melbourne Weekly Magazine, July 30-August 5 2008
Mossman magazine September 2008, Page 20
Manly arts festival 2008 booklet, 12-28 september 2008
Art Guide Australia, September/October 2008
Box Magazine, Autumn 2008
North Side Courier, Editorial, 4th may 2007
Mosman Daily, 4th May 2007
Australia Art Scene, Australia National Pavillion, Australian Government, Shanghai art fair 2007, 15-19th November 2007
Mosman Daily, 26th April 2007
Art Gallery Guide Australia, November/December 2007
Investment Art, House of Phillips Fine Art Update, Issue 12/Issue 10 2007
The Adelaide Review, July 14-27 2006
The Advertiser Review, July 15 2006
BURST magazine, spring edition 2005, page 39
Art Sydney 05, 25-28 August 2005 , page 39
Australia Art Collection, September 2005
Art Almanac, October 2004
The Age, 13 October 2004
Design, Melbourne Herald Sun, July 27 2003
Images of The Urban Experience in Contemporary Painting, University of Western Sydney, 2002
2001 Art on Display, Melbourne Times May 21
2001 Profiles, Art Almanac, March July
Art Almanac, March 2001, Page 89
Art Almanac, December 2000/January 2001
2000 Profiles Art Almanac, February, December editions
2000 The Age, Goodlife Coloumn, February 8, Melbourne
2000 Critics Choice, Jeff Makin, February 28, Melbourne Herald Sun
Art Almanac, Feburary 2000, page 72
2000 Art In America
2000 The University of Western Sydney Art Collection
2000 Public Art Strategy, Moonee Ponds Creek Coordination committee, Cities of Hume, Melbourne, Moonee Valley and Moreland Australia.
2000 Consultation and Issue Identification, Moonee Ponds Creek Public Art Strategy, Collaborations, Australia.
2000 The Pollock Krasner Foundation Newsletter, New York July 18
2000 Acquired Taste, Penrith City Star, October 10
2000 Works Put Our Region Into New Perspective, Penrith Press, October 20
Timeout Penrtih Press, 20 October 2000p
2000 Art: a regional mirror, Sydney Western Weekender, October 27
Western Weekender, 27 October 2000
Penrith City Star, Tuesday, 10 October 2000/November 14 2000
Panthers Magazine, 14 November 2000
2000 Easel Does It, Penrith City Star, November 14
2000 New Acquisitions, Panthers Magazine, November 14
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grants from Fiscal year July 1999- June 2000
1999 The Inclusiveness of Diversity, University of Western Sydney
1998 Inquiry Into The Appeal of Anonymity to the Artist, University of Western
Sydney, Symposium presentation art Gallery of New South Wales.
1992 Art and About, Fitzroy, Melbourne Herald Sun
Broardsheet, 26 May-14 June 1992
The Melbourne Times, June 3 1992, page 17
The Southern Peninsula Gazette, 12 September 1979
Around Red Hill by SMC, September 27 1978, Page 56