Richard Lewer’s work has been selected as the 2024 Ann Bennett Acquisition for the Heide Museum of Modern Art.
The works in the exhibition highlight personal missteps and social blunders, focusing on two particularly awkward encounters: one during his residency at McCahon House in New Zealand (Aotearoa) and another at the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP) in New York City.
Richard Lewer’s artworks combine humour and raw honesty to explore human vulnerabilities and uncomfortable truths. These pieces subtly reflect the complexities of the art world while inviting viewers to consider their own moments of social awkwardness.
The 2024 Ann Bennett Acquisition opens 12 October 2024 and runs until 30 March 2025 in Heide’s Kerry Gardner and Andrew Myer Project Gallery.
Richard Lewer ‘Making contact’
Heide Museum of Modern Art
Bulleen VIC
12 October 2024 – 30 March 2025
Artwork details: Richard Lewer, ‘Making contact with Colin McCahon…’, 2024, acrylic on linen, 200.0 x 200.0 cm
Full Artwork title: “I was on the McCahon residency in NZ when I had some out of towners Alexie Glass-Kantor and Emily Cormack arrived to stay the night. After dinner they decided to do a seance and try and make contact with Colin McCahon. I wanted no part as I know what to say to my hero Colin if we’d got hold of him. Alexie and Emily went ahead without me and thankfully they got hold of a sailor spirit who’d been there before McCahon. Phew”