Dean Reilly

Dean Reilly works predominately in 2D mediums. After a long and distinguished career as an art director, he has developed as a diverse and provocative contemporary artist. His works are progressive and are underpinned by his academic studies. His works is highly acclaimed for their style, design and variation. Dean’s commitment to quality is outstanding and his constant search for ‘the fantastic’ has an enduring presence. He continues to delight and inspire collectors around the world with his unique approach to painting.

Dean has been a finalist in the prestigious Archibald Prize and a finalist in the Moran Art Prize, the world’s richest portrait art competition, for three consecutive years. He has been painting professionally for 19 years and has held successful solo and joint thematic exhibitions throughout Australia. Dean is a mid-career, highly collectable Australian artist; his work can be found in many prestigious private collections around the world. Dean is represented both in Australia and Internationally.

Artist Statement

Dean’s recent works have focused on Australia, its artists, history, myths and legends.

“For me, national identity appears to be like our own identity, made up of generalisations, misrepresentations, truths and totems of significant moments and events. In this collection, I am redefining my own identity by looking deeper into our nation’s historical development through a

somewhat contradictory, whimsical and questionable lens.

This enquiry between historical folklore and documented historical evidence I believe will give us a better understanding of the truth. Using the larrikin visual vernacular employed by Australian contemporary painters such as Boyd, Tucker, Nolan, Drysdale and Whiteley, I am poking and prodding at the glass ceiling of our nation’s identity. Myth would have us believe that we are shaped by the bush, yet since the early 19th century we have been mostly an urban society. Myth would have us believe that Captain Cook discovered Australia, yet the indigenous have inhabited this land for more than 40,000 years. This collection is but a small step into a long journey.” – Dean Reilly

15a.DEAN-REILLY-Sirius-Collector-122-x-122cm-unframed-size-acrylic-on-canvas-$3,900.00

Artist CV

Born 1966
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 Australiana, Solo Exhibition traffic jam galleries Sydney
2018 Untitled- Solo Exhibition Red Hill Gallery
2016 Says Who – Solo Exhibition Red Hill Gallery, Brisbane
2015 Artist’s Dinner series, Solo Exhibition traffic jam galleries, Sydney
2015 Looking for Fantastic, Solo Exhibition Red Hill Gallery, Brisbane
2014 Thunderland, Solo Exhibition traffic jam galleries, Sydney
2013 Gizzard of Waz Solo Exhibition Red Hill Gallery, Brisbane

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 The Birds, traffic jam galleries, Sydney
2016 Hong Kong Art Fair
2016 Singapore Art Fair
2015 Solid Rock, traffic jam galleries, Sydney
2014 Opposite Attraction, Red Hill Gallery, Brisbane
2013 Men of Matter, Red Hill Gallery, Brisbane
2013 Humankind / Flesh and Bone, traffic jam galleries, Sydney
2012 Frontier, traffic jam galleries, Sydney

AWARDS
2013 Finalist Moran Portrait Prize
2012 Finalist Moran Portrait Prize
2011 Finalist Moran Portrait Prize
2010 Finalist Moran Portrait Prize
2010 Finalist Archibald, NSW Gallery, Sydney
1999 Sunshine Coast Design Award

COMMISSIONS
2018 Aveo Group, Commercial commission,
2016 Crown Casino Perth, Commercial Commission
Australia Waltzing Matilda Private Commission
Portrait of Ludwig Leichhardt, German Embassy Commission
Jimbour Wine – Prestigious Label Selection

EDUCATION
2017 – ongoing Bachelor Degree in Visual Art and Visual Culture

The Birds

We are excited to present our opening exhibition for 2021 a group thematic show titled THE BIRDS. Participating artists present their own interpretations and responses to this subject. On a two and three dimensional level the works range from the playful and irreverent through to macabre and nightmarish. The subject is presented through a range of mediums such as steel, ceramics, acrylic and oil paint, digital, pen, ink and charcoal.