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: 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 above: Rodney Forbes A Submariner Dreams of Home 2020 oil on canvas Congratulations to Rodney Forbes who has been …
Mary Tonkin’s landscape paintings will be featured in an upcoming exhibition The Ranges / 3 Perspectives at Burrinja alongside works by …
John Wolseley is included in the current exhibition, The National 2021, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. The …
Celebrated painter Lewis Miller is featured in the new publication ‘Still Life’ by Amber Creswell Bell. A rich survey of …
Installation is currently underway of a major commission by Geoffrey Barlett for the Maribyrnong River. Geoffrey shares with us his …
Image above: Cameron Hayes In the South Pole the explorers were so afraid of not having enough food for winter …
Image above: Cameron Hayes She died in the child welfare tribunal, he died in an adult bookshop 2020-21 oil on …
Above image: Andrew Antoniou in his studio Richard Morecroft recently met with celebrated artist Andrew Antoniou, to talk about his …
Cover image courtesy of Pressing Matters Magazine Danielle Creenaune has recently been featured in the print making magazine, Pressing Matters, …
The work of 76 leading contemporary artists comes together in HOLDING GROUND, an online art exhibition fundraiser to help stop …
Above Image: Mary Tonkin, ‘Madre, Kalorama’, 2008, oil on linen, 244 x 508 cm. Australian Galleries Artists G.W. BOT, …
