Kel Clarke b.1974
Subject: Portraits and Landscapes
Theme: The human condition and experience.
Mediums: Acrylic, oil, charcoal, graphite, mixed media and photography
'The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery'.
Francis Bacon.
The human condition is not stagnant. It is a fluid and multifaceted experience. I view it like an ‘alphabet’ for example; anxiety, boredom, conflict, detachment, empathy, fear etc.. .
Instinct and intuition balanced with physical observation form the basis for my creative process. Physically, I layer the materials to construct and deconstruct the image to communicate concentrations of the ‘alphabet’.
My first substantive exposure to the Visual Arts was in 1991 when I had a curatorial work placement at the Monash Gallery of Art (previously City of Waverley Art Gallery). I continued to work at the gallery as a volunteer until 1994.
In 1993, I commenced formal training at Monash University, Caulfield, and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art in 1995. I was invited by the University to undertake a forth Honours year. After a gap period involving travel, I returned to Monash in 1998 and graduated with a Honours Degree of the Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art).
During the 1990s and early 2000s I exhibited widely in group shows in Victoria, Australia. Galleries where I exhibited work include Geelong Regional Art Gallery, Alchemy, and Goya.
In 2004, with the rapid rise of the Internet as a tool to exhibit art, I directed and curated my own online gallery, 'Way Out West Studios'. This online gallery and exhibition closed in 2007. Selected work from this period can be viewed on this gallery site.
Recognition.
In 2020, I received 'Highly Commended' by the Australian War Memorial Canberra, Napier Waller Art Prize, with my work titled, 'Resilience'.
In 2015 I was a semi-finalist in the 'Doug Moran National Portrait Prize', with my entry titled, 'And?'.
In 2013 I was a semi-finalist in the 'Doug Moran National Portrait Prize' with my entry titled, 'Day 993 0f 1096'.
My work is held in private & public collections in Australia and England, including the Public National Collection at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
The Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Resilience, 2019, Highly Commended, The Napier Waller Art Prize 2020 at The Australian War Memorial
The online exhibition and voting for the People's Choice award commences 17 Aug and closes the 22 Nov 20.
https://www.awm.gov.au/Napier-Waller-Art-Prize-hub/2020-Napier-Waller-Art-Prize/resilience
The exhibition at the AWM has been extended until Sunday May 16th of May 2021.
Juniper Hall, 250 Oxford Street, Paddington, NSW, Australia.
Hello all,
Wonderful news yesterday, my portrait 'And?' was selected for the Semi-Finals of the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015.
Happy painting, Kel Clarke.
Hello all,
Wonderful news yesterday, my portrait 'And?' was selected for the Semi-Finals of the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015. Below is the link to the site.
http://www.moranprizes.com.au/competition/2015-doug-moran-national-portrait-prize/semi-finalists
Happy painting, Kel Clarke.
