James Gleeson (1915-2008)  Original Ink, Collage and Wash Artwork on Paper 42cm x 29cm

James Gleeson (1915-2008) was well known for his surrealist artwork and male forms and this is one of his finiest. A large original ink and graphite collage and wash on wove paper. The piece is titled "Appearances are but Limitations of Hidden Realities..." and is signed lower right 'Gleeson 76' and initialled JG.  The main character is drawn in graphite with sepia toned fish and rgino and inscribed "Appearances are but imitations of hidden realities, and as Bacon observed, all colours will agree in the dark". The artwork is in excellent condition. Provenance: Christie's, Melbourne, 27th April 1998 (lot 352) then as part of the Ken Hinds Cultural Collection.

In terms of surrealist artists in Australia, they don't come much better than James Gleeson. Right now, one of Australia's most collectible artists and this is one of the finest collages we have ever offered. Be super quick!

Dimensions

Image size: 42cm x 29cm
Frame size: xxcm x xx x cm

Bio

James Gleeson was born in Hornsby, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 21 Nov 1915. Renowned as Australia’s foremost surrealist painter and poet, James Gleeson’s oeuvre explores the human condition beyond visible reality and the limitations of the senses through powerful enigmas of fleshy biomorphic, mechanical and illusionistic landscape forms. In addition to his contributions to surrealism, throughout his career Gleeson made important contributions to the Australian art world as a dedicated writer, critic and affiliate of a number of art institutions. 

Gleeson's themes generally delved into the subconscious using literary, mythological or religious subject matter. He was particularly interested in Jung's archetypes of the collective unconscious. His retrospective in 2004–2005, Beyond the Screen of Sight, included 120 paintings and was exhibited in Melbourne and Canberra.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales exhibited Gleeson's drawings for paintings in 2003 and The Ubu diptych in 2005 to celebrate Gleeson's 90th birthday. The Ubu diptych is regarded as one of his greatest. In September 2007, the largest collection of Australian surrealism ever collected was donated to the National Gallery of Australia by Ray Wilson. The collection included various works by James Gleeson.

Gleeson died in Sydney on 20 October 2008, aged 92