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).
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).
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
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
2020 Summer Hang, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2019 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, James Makin Gallery
2019 I HEART Paint, Bega Valley Regional Gallery
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
2012 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
2007 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
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020 Summer Hang, Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
2019 Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, James Makin Gallery
2019 I HEART Paint, Bega Valley Regional Gallery
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
2012 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
2007 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/GRANTS/PRIZES
2020 Finalist – Paddington Art Prize
2019 Finalist – Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
Salon des Refusés, S.H. Ervin Gallery
Finalist – Wynne Prize, AGNSW
2018 Finalist – Archibald Prize, AGNSW
Finalist – Sulman Prize, AGNSW
2017 Finalist – Archibald Prize, AGNSW
Finalist – Sulman Prize, AGNSW
2016 Finalist – Wynne Prize, AGNSW
Finalist – Mosman Art Prize, NSW
Finalist – Tattersalls Landscape Art Prize, Brisbane
Finalist – Kilgour Art Prize, Newcastle, NSW
Winner – NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, NSW
Finalist – Paddington Art Prize, NSW
2015 Finalist – Wynne Prize, AGNSW
Finalist – Mosman Art Prize, NSW
Finalist – Kogarah Art Prize (commended) NSW
Finalist – Mosman Art Prize, NSW
Winner – Naked and Nude – Manning Art Prize, NSW
Finalist – NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, NSW
Finalist – Tattersalls Landscape Art Prize, Brisbane
2014 Finalist – Calleen Art Prize, Cowra, NSW
Finalist – Wynne Art Prize for Landscape, AGNSW
Finalist – Called Art Prize, NSW
Finalist – Mosman Art Prize, NSW
Finalist – Paddington Art Prize, NSW
Finalist – Keduma Drawing Award, NSW
Finalist – Norville Art Prize, NSW
2013 Finalist – Manning Art Prize “Naked and the Nude” – Runner up
Finalist – Wynne Prize for Landscape painting, Art Gallery of NSW
Finalist – Tattersals Landscape Art Prize, QLD
Finalist – Lloyd Rees Art Prize, Tasmania
2012 Finalist – Tattersals Landscape Art Prize, QLD
Finalist – Redland Art Award, QLD
Finalist – Kedumba Drawing Prize, NSW
Finalist – Wynne Prize, AGNSW
Finalist – Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, NSW Government House, Sydney
Finalist – Paddington Art Prize
Salon De Refuses, Archibald Entry, SE Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2011 Finalist – Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, NSW Government House, Sydney
2010 Awarded Art Gallery of NSW Residency at Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris
Finalist – Archibald Prize, AGNSW
Finalist – Wynne Prize, AGNSW
Finalist – Plein Air Painting Prize, NSW Parliament
2009 Finalist – Plein Air Painting Prize, NSW Government House, Sydney
2008 Finalist – 57th Blake Prize, Redland Art Prize, Queensland
2004 Salon de Refuses Wynne Entry – S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2003 Salon de Refuses Wynne Entry – S H Ervin Gallery, Sydney
ARTWORKS
-
Robert Malherbe Woman's Back 2
2021
oil on board
40 x 40cm
Sold
ENQUIRE → -
Robert Malherbe Figure 26
2021
oil on board
30 x 40cm
$4,200.00
ENQUIRE →
-
Robert Malherbe Figure 9
2021
oil on linen
71 x 61cm
Sold
ENQUIRE → -
Robert Malherbe Figure 12
2021
oil on board
30 x 40cm
Sold
ENQUIRE → -
Robert Malherbe Figure 15
2021
oil on board
40 x 40cm
Sold
ENQUIRE → -
Robert Malherbe Figure 17
2021
oil on linen
86 x 66cm
Sold
ENQUIRE → -
Robert Malherbe Flower on a Book
2021
oil on board
40 x 40cm
Sold
ENQUIRE → -
Robert Malherbe Reclining Figure 7
2021
oil on linen
30 x 40cm
Sold
ENQUIRE → -
Robert Malherbe Garden Still Life 4
2021
oil on board
60 x 46cm
Sold
ENQUIRE → -
Robert Malherbe The Sunbather
2021
oil on polyester
55 x 46cm
Sold
ENQUIRE → -
Robert Malherbe Lake Pillans
2021
oil on Polyester canvas
71 x 61cm
Sold
ENQUIRE → -
Robert Malherbe Figure 14
2021
oil on linen
38 x 46cm
$4,800.00
ENQUIRE →
