Australian artist Anthony White is an abstract painter in the truest sense – his works draw immediately from his response to the landscape and urban environment, but are highly refined experiments of one man’s obsession with the process of applying paint to canvas.
He is influenced by references from the New York School of the 1950's, The Merzbau project of the artist Kurt Schwitters, and the abstract movement including Mondrian's ‘De Stijl’ and the ‘Combines’ of Robert Rauchenberg. His work is characterised by an awareness of surface and a preoccupation with the engagement of physicality and the found object.
White’s majestic, contemplative and powerful works, which reveal tantalising hints of landscape and dazzle with thoughtful hues and tones, are truly compelling. For any lover of paint, and indeed any lover of a knowing and bold brush stroke, White’s pieces will not only satisfy, they will leave their audience wanting more.
Born in Sydney, Australia in 1976, White has been living and working in Paris, France since 2009. White completed his visual arts studies at the National Art School in Sydney. With the help of the Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship, White furthered his education by participating in the Drawing Marathon Programme at The New York Studio School.
Anthony White has produced a number of solo exhibitions, the most notable being ‘Paris Paintings’ in 2010 and ‘Scratching The Surface’ in 2011, both at The Iain Dawson Gallery in Sydney, and this current show - ‘Informal Relations’ at The Cat Street Gallery in Hong Kong, in 2013.
White was the recipient of The Marten Bequest in 2007,The Elioth Gruner Prize for Landscape Painting at The Art Gallery of NSW in 2005, and The Great Southland Art Prize in 2003. He has also been the recipient of many artist in residence programmes throughout the world, including The Vermont Studio Centre in 2008 and La Cite Internationale Des Arts in 2010.
White has been a finalist in many art prizes in Australia including The Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship in 2006, The Churchie Emerging Art Prize in 2005 and 2007, The Hills Grammar Art Prize in 2005, The Willoughby Art Prize in 2006, Art on the Rocks in 2005, The Paddington Art Prize in 2005 as well as the Lloyd Rees Memorial Art Prize in 2002. From these White received commendations in both The Churchie Emerging Art Award and The Lloyd Rees Memorial Art Prize.
White has participated in curated group exhibitions in Sydney, London, Hong Kong, New York and Brisbane with The Iain Dawson Gallery, The Tim Olsen Gallery, The COMODAA Gallery, The Cat Street Gallery and Edwina Corlette Gallery respectively. He was also part of a group exhibition focusing on current emerging Australian painters at The Mary Place Gallery Four Young Australian Painters curated by Julius Bokor in 2005.
During late 2011, the artist received a commission to produce new work for the filmmakers Baz Luhrmann and costume designer Catherine Martin for their residences in Sydney and New York.
