Rodney Forbes is is fascinated by how people tell stories. His vibrant paintings address deeply poignant subject matter through dreamlike and surreal imagery. Figures and objects float against his trademark palette of bright, luminous colours, drawing the viewer in to explore a rich narrative. Drawing on both autobiographical and historical events, Forbes has the masterful ability to portray sometimes dark and challenging subject matter through vibrant, cartoon-like imagery, resulting in deeply engaging works that invite extended contemplation.
Rodney Forbes’ work is held in the collection of the Australian National Gallery, Canberra, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Artbank, several regional galleries and numerous private collections in Australia and internationally. He is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Arts and Education at Federation University Australia and was previously the Director of Gippsland Centre for Art and Design and Switchback Gallery at Monash University. His work has been the subject of two major curated survey exhibitions and he has been the recipient of an Australia Council Arts and Crafts Board New Work Grant. Forbes has been active in the curation of numerous indigenous exhibitions and cross-cultural art projects.
Photograph of Rodney Forbes by Richard Dodson
PAST EXHIBITIONS
Image above: Publication cover detail, featuring Wayne Viney Clearing storm 2000 monotype on paper 17.5 x 17.4 cm A number …
Image above: Rodney Forbes Shrove Monday 2010 oil on canvas 122 x 138 cm (private collection) In a collaboration between …
Image above: Rodney Forbes A Submariner Dreams of Home 2020 oil on canvas Congratulations to Rodney Forbes who has been …
Image: Danielle Creenaune Cascade Falls watercolour on Saunders Waterford 56 x 76 cm Congratulations to Danielle Creenaune who has been …
Image above: Rodney Pople Self portrait after Courbet (2) Congratulations to Graeme Drendel, Martin King, Lewis Miller, Paul S. Miller …
Image: Sarah Tomasetti From Balpatta IV 2021 oil and incision on fresco plaster with muslin, mounted on stretched canvas 145 …
David Frazer’s latest artist book, Love Letter, has recently been featured in the Sydney Morning Herald in an article written …
Image: Jennifer Keeler-Milne Spring Wattle I 2021 oil on linen 92 x 198 cm Congratulations to Jennifer Keeler-Milne who has …
Image above: Chris Ingham Urban mission I 2019 lithograph edition 3 76 x 56 cm Printmaker and sculptor, Chris Ingham …
Image above: Sue Anderson Christmas Island Pipistrelle coloured pencil on paper 30.5 x 22 cm ‘Extinct’ is a recently published book by …
Image: Angus Fisher Rosellas and Banksias 2021 ink pen and watercolour on paper 76 x 56 cm Angus Fisher has …
Image: Andrew Antoniou Constant Companions 2020 charcoal and conte 130 x 220 cm Australian Galleries are thrilled to announce that …
Image above: Glenn Morgan COVID Melbourne 2020 acrylic on board 130 x 170cm Congratulations to Glenn Morgan and Jenny Rodgerson, …
