Based in Sydney, multidisciplinary artist Brock Q. Piper creates lively oil paintings filled with theatrical expression. Strongly autobiographical, his works are centred in storytelling, “playing out the faults and virtues of what it is to be human.” Piper trained at Melbourne University’s Victorian College of the Arts and cites influences as diverse as Greek mythology, Mayan rituals, and musician Tom Waits on his work. Patches of pattern and colour animate the artist’s rich narrative scenes, where use of thin layers of oil paint and his skill with glazing allows for different elements to be both revealed and obscured. Layers seem to be shed or accumulated depending on the context in which the paintings are beheld, making for an enthralling viewing experience. Piper won the 2021 George Hicks Victorian Artist Society Contemporary Art Award, and his work is held in private and corporate collections throughout Australia and the US.
Featured Image:Brock Q. Piper, Tambien, 2021. Oil and charcoal on canvas, 120 x 120cm.Courtesy: the artist.