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

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

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
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Robert Malherbe Woman's Back 1 2021 Oil on canvas 66 x 56cm
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Robert Malherbe Garden Still Life 4 2021 oil on board 60 x 46cm
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Robert Malherbe Flower on a Book 2021 oil on board 40 x 40cm
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Robert Malherbe Figure 17 2021 oil on linen 86 x 66cm
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Robert Malherbe Figure 15 2021 oil on board 40 x 40cm
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Robert Malherbe Figure 12 2021 oil on board 30 x 40cm
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Robert Malherbe Figure 9 2021 oil on linen 71 x 61cm
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Robert Malherbe Dahlias 2021 oil on polyester 66 x 56cm
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Robert Malherbe Lake Pillans 2021 oil on Polyester canvas 71 x 61cm
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Robert Malherbe The Sunbather 2021 oil on polyester 55 x 46cm
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Robert Malherbe Reclining Figure 7 2021 oil on linen 30 x 40cm
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