Robert Malherbe

Artist Profile

Biography

Using dense impasto surfaces and a luscious appliqué of oil paint, often in a restricted palette, Robert Malherbe generates a startling sense of immediacy in his works. Moving paint freely around the canvas he captures light, shade and form. Malherbe works only from life, a method which contributes to the artist’s vigorous mark-making as he records a visual impression along with other, less tangible elements embodied by his different muses.

Through this expressive, gestural style Malherbe creates highly charged images of his female models. In some works the artist overtly explores sex and sexuality, while others lend themselves to a more subtle erotic suggestion. His landscapes, painted en plein air, are based on scenes from the small town of Blackheath in the Blue Mountains (NSW) where the artist lives, transforming the trees and streets of this elevated location through his intense palette of yellows, reds and oranges. Absorbing scenes from the everyday, such as watching the familiar rituals of his partner dress and undress, or the view that greets the artist when stepping out his front door, Malherbe is driven to express the deeply personal. In both his landscape oriented and figurative paintings he imparts a rich and pervasive sensuality.

Robert Malherbe is a regular finalist in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes, most recently he was a finalist in both the 2018 and 2019 Wynne Prize and the 2018 Archibald Prize. Malherbe He has been awarded the NSW Parliament Plein Air Art Prize (2016) and the Manning Art Prize (2015).

BIOGRAPHY

Exhibitions

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Sydney Contemporary, solo exhibition presentation by James Makin Gallery, Carriageworks, Sydney

2022
Something Must Remian, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne Highfields, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney

2021
Feeling is everything, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Raw Instinct, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2020
The Darlinghurst Suite, Michael Reid Gallery, Berlin
The Human Landscape, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney
Motherland, Caudan Arts Centre, Port Louis

2019
Recent Work, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
Painted from Life, Jan Murphy Gallery, Melbourne

2017
Recent Paintings, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
New works, Chalkhorse, Sydney

2016
In a brighter light, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Resist the spirit of the times, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, NSW

2014
What’s there is there, Olsen Irwin Gallery, Sydney
New Works, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
Gathered in Spring, Small works Olsen Irwin Gallery, Sydney

2013
Ménage, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane

2012
Douzième, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2011
Genre, Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney
Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane

2010
Recent Works, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2009
New Paintings, Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney

2008
Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane

2007
Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney

2006
Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane

2005
Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney

2004
Tim Olsen Gallery

2003
Tim Olsen Gallery Annex, Sydney

2000 Global Gallery, Sydney

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024
Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne

2023
Autumn Collection, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Sydney Contemporary, Fox Jensen, Sydney
Summer New, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2022
Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
Mutual Exchange, NGV Melbourne Design Week, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2021
Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Summer New James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
Chapter Three, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne

2020
Summer Hang, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Paddington Art Prize, Menzies Art Brands, Sydney
Navigating Cook, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney

2019
Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, James Makin Gallery
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Juniper Hall, Sydney
I HEART Paint, Bega Valley Regional Gallery
Paddington Art Prize, Menzies Art Brands, Sydney
Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Len Fox Painting Award, Castlemaine Art Museum, Castlemaine
Kilgour Art Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery, Sydney
Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

2018
Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, James Makin Gallery

2017
Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, James Makin Gallery
Art in Action, 3:33 Art Project, Lendlease, Sydney
Artist Profile, Australian Painters, 2007 – 2017, Orange Regional Gallery, NSW
Dog Days, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane

2016
Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Spring Fever, Defiance Gallery, Sydney
40 x 40 show, Wagner Gallery, Sydney
Seeing in Darjeeling, Cox Gallery, Canberra
Self Portraits on Paper, Bouddi Foundation for the Arts Charity Auction

2015
Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, James Makin Gallery, Sydney
Art Stage Singapore, Singapore, with James Makin Gallery
40 x 40 show, Wagner Gallery, Sydney
11.11.15, Home@735, Redfern, Sydney
Salon Des Refuses SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney
Hurford Hardwood Portrait Price, Lismore Regional Gallery, NSW
Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
Naked and Nude, Manning Art Prize, Manning Regional Gallery, NSW
Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize, Tattersall’s Club Brisbane

2014
Hill End Group Show, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
Salon des Refuses – SE Ervin Gallery, Sydney

2011
Erotica, James Makin Gallery, Melbourne
Salon des Refuses, S. H Erwin Gallery, Sydney

2010
Autumn Collection, James Makin Gallery, Sydney
Stations of the Cross, Uniting Church, St Ives

2008
2 x 2 Group Exhibition, Tim Olsen Gallery Annex, Sydney
Solstice, Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney

2006
Art on the Rocks, Sydney

2003
Tim Olsen Gallery

2002
Flesh, Art House Gallery, Sydney

1999
Chelsea Art Show

Awards

AWARDS/PRIZES/RESIDENCIES

2024
Finalist – Gosford Art Prize, Gosford Regional Gallery

2023
Finalist – Paddington Art Prize, Menzies Art Brands

2022
Finalist – Archibald Prize, AGNSW

2021
Finalist, Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

2020
Finalist, Paddington Art Prize, Menzies Art Brands, Sydney

2019
Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Juniper Hall, Sydney
Finalist, Paddington Art Prize, Menzies Art Brands, sydney
Finalist, Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, sydney
Finalist, Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, sydney
Finalist, Kilgour Art Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery, nsw
Finalist, Len Fox Painting Award, Castlemaine Art Musuem, vic

2018
Finalist, Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, sydney
Finalist, Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize, Tattersall’s Club, Brisbane

2017
Finalist, Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, sydney
Finalist, Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, sydney

2016
Finalist, Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, sydney
Winner, Plein Air Art Prize, New South Wales Parliament House,sydney
Finalist, Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize, Tattersall’s Club, brisbane
Finalist, Paddington Art Prize, Woollahra, nsw
Winner, Naked and Nude, Manning Art Prize, Manning Regional Gallery, nsw

2015
Finalist, Plein Air Art Prize, New South Wales Parliament House, sydney
Finalist, Kogarah Art Prize, Kogarah City Council, nsw
Finalist, Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, sydney
Finalist, Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, sydney
Finalist, Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, sydney
Finalist, Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize, Tattersall’s Club, brisbane
Finalist, Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize, Lismore Regional Gallery, nsw

2014
Finalist, Calleen Art Prize, Cowra Regional Art Gallery, nsw
Finalist, Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, sydney
Finalist, Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, sydney
Finalist, Paddington Art Prize, sydney

2013
Consolation Prize, Naked and Nude, Manning Art Prize, Manning Regional Gallery, nsw
Finalist, Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize, Tattersall’s Club, brisbane
Finalist, Lloyd Rees Art Prize, Colville Gallery, hobart
Finalist, Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, sydney

2012
Finalist, Wynne Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, sydney
Finalist, Salon des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, sydney
Finalist, Plein Air Painting Prize, New South Wales Government House, sydney
Finalist, Tattersall’s Landscape Art Prize, Tattersall’s Club, brisbane
Finalist, Paddington Art Prize, sydney
Finalist, Kedumba Drawing Award, Orange Regional Gallery, nsw
Finalist, Redland Art Award, Redland Art Gallery, qld

2011
Finalist, Salon des Refuses, S H Erwin Gallery, sydney
Finalist, Plein Air Painting Prize, New South Wales Government House, sydney

2008
Finalist, 57TH Blake Prize, National Art School Gallery, sydney

2004
Finalist, Salon des Refuses, S H Erwin Gallery, sydney

2003
Finalist, Salon des Refuses, S H Erwin Gallery, sydney

ARTWORKS

Robert Malherbe Lake 13 2024 oil on linen 66 x 66 cm $8,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Robert Malherbe Lake 9 2024 oil on linen 110 x 90 cm $15,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Robert Malherbe Large Lake in Autumn 2024 oil on linen 137 x 183 cm $30,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Robert Malherbe Lake 17 2024 oil on linen 110 x 90 cm $15,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Robert Malherbe Lake 8 2024 oil on linen 112 x 91 cm $15,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Robert Malherbe Lake 1 2024 oil on linen 122 x 91 cm $17,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Robert Malherbe Lake 4 2024 oil on polyester 46 x 51 cm $6,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Robert Malherbe Figure 13 2022 oil on linen 61 x 51 cm $6,500.00 ENQUIRE →
Robert Malherbe The Dreamer 3 2022 oil on linen 127 x 97 cm $16,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Robert Malherbe Still Life 6 2022 Oil on canvas 50 x 50 cm $6,000.00 ENQUIRE →
Robert Malherbe Figure 26 2022 oil on board 50 x 40 cm $5,900.00 ENQUIRE →