To mark Leonard Joel’s 10th anniversary in Sydney, I would like to highlight three Sydney-based artists whose work is well loved as much by art critics as by a broader art audience.
This is a personal selection of artists I feel have made, are making, and will make a significant contribution to Australian art out of Sydney.
Art Gallery of New South Wales, donated through
the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program
by Louise Walker 2008, photo: Robert Walker
© Estate of Robert Walker
Past
It would not feel right to highlight Sydney-based artists without mentioning Brett Whiteley. Whiteley holds a major place in the hearts of Australians which is a testament to the intensity and passion with which he created.
Whiteley’s style is graphic and defined by his mastery of the drawn line. What set Whiteley apart was his relentless drive to create. His work was an exploration of his personal life, other artists, and historical events. It is the uniqueness of how he “diarises” his perception of the world that make his work stand out.
Whiteley’s creative journey was marked by curiosity and commitment to experiment with different media. His work remains distinct for its depth and the unique lens it offers. Inspired by artists like Francis Bacon, Whiteley wove influences into his own narrative, producing works that were deeply personal yet universally resonant.
In 1959, Whiteley won the Italian Government Travelling Art Scholarship, an important moment in his career. It allowed him to spend the next decade in Europe, showcasing his work in group exhibitions across major cities such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin and New York. These experiences enriched his artistic vision.
When Whiteley returned to Sydney, Lavender Bay became the focal point of his creativity. These works, arguably his most iconic, reflect his deep connection to the city. Whiteley’s art is a celebration of life’s beauty as much as its complexity.
in her studio, 2021
Present
Lindy Lee is well known for her iconic works in black and red, often depicting portraits of cultural significance and employing an artistic technique centred around photocopying.
Images are copied and layered with carbon, paint, and wax, creating textured grids that transform the depletion of the original image into a celebration of reinvention. Through repetition, Lee reclaims the power of the original, linking the layers of her photocopies to the history of the original. A practising Buddhist, Taoism and Zen Buddhism are a consistent influence on Lee’s practice. As a child of Chinese immigrants, her cultural heritage had a profound impact on her art. Lee’s artistic output bridges Eastern and Western traditions.
The artists most ambitious project Ouroboros, a reflective sculpture was unveiled at the Art Gallery of Australia to mark the gallery’s 40th anniversary. The artwork has become a striking landmark, embodying themes of infinity and interconnectedness. Made from recycled stainless steel with 45,000 perforations it symbolises cycles of creation and destruction.
Future
The emerging artist Julia Gutman has chosen textiles as her medium. Her artworks are created in an experimental and unique process, using a sewing machine in which she layers fabrics and thread. Gutman has a background in painting which is eminent as she uses the thread as a painter would the pen. Her artworks are painterly as much as they are sculptural.
Gutman depicts ‘ordinary’ young people capturing their vulnerability and wonder. The vintage fabrics she uses are often given to her, such as the clothing of a friend that sadly passed away. Her works inhabit a sense of history, memory and humanity and carry a shared history of what it means to be human.
In May 2023, Gutman received the Archibald Prize, becoming the youngest winner in over 8 decades. The previous year, she was one of six artists featured in Primavera 2022 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in Sydney.
All three artists give a unique perspective on their view of the world. Each committed to mastering a unique medium and technique. It is this thought process materialising through media into an artistic expression, that creates the magic that art is.
By Wiebke Brix, Head of Art
Top Image: Julia Gutman, Everyone You Are Looking at is Also You, 2024 Installation view. Sullivan+Strumpf, Naarm/Melbourne. Photography by Christian Capurro.
February 2025