Gus Leunig’s detailed, colourful and poetic works encapsulate his love of nature, animals and life in the Victorian countryside, where he spent most of his childhood. His seemingly simplistic figures exist in complex worlds, where whimsical stories appear as complex maps from the atlas of Gus’ imagination. Organic and meandering line-work belies a carefully crafted composition and meticulous eye for detail. A new day or mood can allow different story lines to unfold.

Gus’ professional career as an artist launched in 2009 with a sell out show at Art Sydney, followed by yearly successes in his solo exhibitions at Libby Edwards Galleries in Melbourne, and a successful showing at the Design Files showcase. Van Rensburg Galleries (Hong Kong) have regularly exhibited Gus’ work in the New York and Hong Kong art fairs. In 2019, Gus had his first exhibition at the Parasol Projects in Nolita, New York. Last year he was a featured artist at the New York Art Fair.

In 2004, Gus lived with artist-father Michael Leunig in the small aboriginal community, Lockhart River at the very northern tip of Cape York Peninsula. Working in the local Arts Centre alongside local Aboriginal artists, his burgeoning love for the territory, ‘it’s people’, and its isolation, evoked an overwhelming desire to paint. During this experience, Gus was reminded of his childhood and the most basic of needs – fishing, hunting and laughing. The artist’s work has been purchased for both private collections as well as public foundations such as The Epworth Hospital Foundation. He has featured work on network television dramas, ABC and Channel 10 in Australia. Gus is also regularly approached for commissions small and large, all of which are created in his studio based in the small town of Avenel, country Victoria.