Black gold is Guy Maestri’s first solo exhibition in Queensland. Having recently joined Jan Murphy Gallery’s stable of represented artists, the NSW based artist is known for his skill in plein air painting and the connection he has with the landscape surrounding Broken Hill, Hill End and Wilcannia.
In developing work for this exhibition, Maestri spent time in and around Broken Hill exploring mining debris from yesteryear, he says:
“In exploring the areas established by mining, I have gained more of an understanding into the processes through which nearly every man-made thing comes into being. Generally speaking, ore contains the building blocks of life.”
“I was also thinking about the way mineshafts and chambers run throughout the earth like the roots of a massive, invisible tree.”
A graduate of the National Art School, Maestri won the 2014 Kings Art School Prize judged by Edmond Capon OBE AM and the Premier’s Plein Air Painting Prize. He is a regular finalist in the Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW and his work is held in several public collections including the National Portrait Gallery and Parliament House Collections.
Image credit: Photo courtesy of the artist.