Image: Gordon Shepherdson, Swimmers in the sea of eyes, c 1996, Oil and Enamel on Paper. 116 x 113cm. Courtesy of Gordon Shepherdson Estate and Philip Bacon Galleries. Photography by Carl Warner.
An artist’s love of fishing the waters of Moreton Bay and the Redlands Coast features in a new exhibition at Redland Art Gallery.
Gordon Shepherdson: Ocean of Eyes celebrates the work of the late Brisbane-based artist, Gordon Shepherdson. Described as having two great loves – fishing and painting – Shepherdson was renowned for his expressionist paintings, with subjects often set against dark, deep backgrounds that reflect a haunting quality in his work. Swimmers, bathers, birds and stormy skies sit alongside delicate landscapes, beaches and glimpses of landforms in this exhibition of Shepherdson’s paintings. Most of the works draw from memories of the bay while fishing from his ‘tinnie’ for more than 40 years.
Born in Brisbane, Shepherdson attended Gatton Agricultural College for two years from the age of 14. He then worked various jobs before returning to Brisbane where he attended art classes at night, first with Caroline Barker at the Royal Queensland Art Society in 1951, and a decade later with Jon Molvig and Andrew Sibley. For 23 years, he worked in an abattoir to support his wife and children. His work and his great love of fishing provided the light and shade for many of his paintings.
This exhibition is presented in partnership with Philip Bacon Galleries, Nathan Shepherdson and Bruce Heiser.
A publication has been produced to accompany this survey exhibition, supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation. Featuring writing by Bruce Heiser, Nathan Shepherdson, Louise Martin-Chew, and David Burnett, this publication provides a rich and comprehensive insight into Shepherdson’s career.
Gordon Shepherdson: Ocean of Eyes will be open to the public during gallery hours until Sunday December 3, 2023.
