Open: Wednesday 12 - 4pm; Thursday & Friday 11am - 4pm; Saturday 11am - 3pm; and by appointment
Darren Gannon - Respite 2

Darren Gannon

Painter, Artist

Born Sydney, 1969

Returning to stretches of south coast NSW, Gannon accumulates working drawings on site, sketching elements of weather or impressions of a landscape, in order to generate the content for his paintings back in his Sydney studio. The artist was a finalist in the 2011 Hazelhurst Prize.

Atmosphere is heightened by Gannon’s wonderful shrouding of diffused even light so that the detailed brush work of landforms float on the horizon line. A dream-like mood emanates from the misty bushland and cavernous hillsides. Following the success of Gannon’s past five solo shows at Libby Edwards Galleries, Gannon has created a solid following for his moody paintings. The 2012 series ‘Mountain’ explored his overnight experience of Kosciusko National Park in Autumn.

The artist reflected –

Atmosphere and light are the two most significant pictorial elements in a picture for me. One sets the mood and emotion of a piece work, the other dictates the clarity of an image. During that brief period (24 hours) the landscape was subjected to some of the most sublime and threatening conditions I had ever encountered. It is a physically dramatic place, the colours of the palette are limited, however they are bold and strong. It is undeniable beautiful, in its own way. It is not the alpine landscape of Europe or America, there is still that unkempt, untidy but uniquely Australian element to it. There was an immediate connection for me and certainly the prospect of making work from this landscape seemed distinctly possible…

At times I felt it necessary to try to convey the sheer physicality of the place, sharp edges, hard surfaces and unforgiving terrain. Then there are the atmospheric conditions which transform the landscape into something almost other worldly. Silence and purity that can make you almost believe that you are the only one… It is a place that immediately impresses itself on me and continued to move me long after I had returned home.

Solo Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

2019 Libby Edwards Galleries, South Yarra, Melbourne

2013 ‘Trace’ Libby Edwards Galleries, Armadale Melbourne

2012 ‘Mountain’ Libby Edwards Galleries, Armadale Melbourne

2011 ‘Winter Sea’ Libby Edwards Galleries, Armadale Melbourne
2010 ‘Veil’ Libby Edwards Galleries, Armadale Melbourne
2009 ‘Exterior Decorating’ Libby Edwards Galleries, Armadale Melbourne
2008 ‘New Paintings’ Groundfloor Gallery, Balmain, Sydney
2007 ‘Uncommon Ground’ Groundfloor Gallery, Balmain, Sydney
2007 ‘Finding Solace’ GroundFloor Gallery, Balmain, Sydney
2006 ‘Country’ Washhouse Gallery, Rozelle, Sydney
2005 Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea, Sydney

Additional Info

Teaching 2009 Artist Workshop with Peter Sharp, Canberra Regional Gallery Museum 2008 Artist Workshop with Peter Sharp, Regional NSW 2007 Master class Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea 2006 Master class Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea 2005 Master class Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, Gymea Board Appointments 2009 Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre (Exhibition Working Party) Gymea, Sydney, NSW Residency 2006 Lake Leaghur Research Station, Lake Mungo National Park, NSW
Libby Edwards Galleries © 2023. All Rights Reserved – Privacy Policy