Sean Edward Whelan

LOCALS 2023 – Outré Gallery Melbourne

I was invited to join the annual LOCALS show at Outré Gallery, in Melbourne again this year. It was a big one, with over 80 artists showing work, and a huge turnout for the opening, with people spilling out into the street – it was great to be there for the buzz. Here are the pieces I put in the show. Both are acrylic on wooden board. Which I’ve been enjoying working on for the smooth finish I can get.

These are available and any enquiries can be directed to Outré Gallery directly.

Antipodes 2023 – Beinart Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

Horse – 2023
Acrylic on wooden panel
40x40cm

This year I was very lucky to be invited along to join Beinart’s 4th annual exhibition of Australian contemporary artists, Antipodes.

The open show brings together artist working across a variety of traditional and non-traditional, sculpture and mixed media. It’s humbling to be alongside some incredible talent.

For more information, visit the Beinart Gallery website, or if you are in Brunswick, Melbourne, drop in and see the exhibition for yourself.

Antipodes opens 15 January 2023 and runs through to the 29th.

Hounds – 2023
Acrylic on wooden panel
40x40cm

Unnatural Histories XI – Antler Gallery, Portland Oregon

Coming up very soon, I’ll be exhibiting a new piece at Antler Gallery (Portland, Oregon) for the annual invitational show – UNNATURAL HISTORIES XI, which digs deep into mythology, cryptozoology and natural history drawing. Really looking forward to seeing how each artist interprets the theme, and it’s great to have a piece included.

For more info on the show, check out @antlerpdx on Instagram or visit their website.

Thylacine – 2023
Acrylic on wooden panel
40x40cm

Opening Thursday, 29th September 2022

Vanguard – Outré Gallery Melbourne

Coming up this September, I’ll be exhibiting a new piece in Outré Gallery’s invitational show – VANGUARD – featuring contemporary artists from across the world.

Without getting too gushy, it’s a bit deal to be alongside artists I’ve been following for many years, so I’ll be heading over to Melbourne to see these artworks in person. If you are in the city on September 9, I might catch up with you there.

Join Outré Gallery’s mailing list to get your hands on the catalogue and see the artist line up before the show, and for more information visit their website.

A preview of my piece – The Cave – below.

LOCALS 2022 – Outré Gallery Melbourne

Very excited to start 2022 off on the right foot, with an invitation to join over 80 Australian artists at Outré Gallery’s annual LOCALS group exhibition. If you are in Melbourne, February 25 to 21 March, don’t miss the chance to visit the Smith Street gallery and check it out.

With a bit of luck, I’ll be leaving fortress Tasmania for a visit too, and be there for the opening. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Here is a little preview of my piece. Hope you can make it along – and be sure to keep an eye on Outré Gallery’s website for more information on the artist lineup and opening.

This One’s for You – August 13 – 15, 2021

 
 
A good year ago, a friend in the UK, Paul (Paulmonsters) reached out with an offer to be involved in something very special born out of a personal tragedy. The charity exhibition, dedicated to the memory of his father, struck a chord with me, and I gladly took up the opportunity to be involved.

This piece was my submission to ‘This one’s for you’. And if purchased, all proceeds will be donated to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham’s renal transplant ward – where Paul’s dad received his treatment – helping others in need of kidney transplants and care.  

So if you’re in Birmingham, and can get to the Melting Pot, come by and support the show and this important cause.

More details on the Facebook event page, or on Instagram

Tension Point – Blackartprojects, Melbourne

I’m really pleased to announce that my solo show Tension Point with Blackartprojects will be opening Thursday 1 July 2021, at Honey Bones Gallery in Collingwood, Melbourne.

For sales enquiries, please contact Blackartprojects and request a catalogue (available in the last week of June)

P.S. Must be said that there is the ever-present possibility that lockdown might impact the timing of the show, but the opportunity to present some new work, and leave Tasmania is pretty damn exciting regardless. I can’t wait to be back in Melbourne, show my latest work and catch up with you all, so watch this space for any last-minute changes and take care.

TENSION POINT – Sean Edward Whelan
Blackartprojects
July 1 – 14
Honey Bones Gallery
50 Budd St, Collingwood VIC 3101

Proudly supported by Dormilona Wines

LOCALS – Outré Gallery Melbourne

Super chuffed to be invited along to join a whole bunch of awesome Australian artists for the LOCALS show, opening on Feb 14 at Outré Gallery in Collingwood.
Big shout out to the team there – it’s great to be a part of it, and an awkward self congratulatory slap on the back for me. It’s my first show for 2020.

Here is a little preview of my piece. Hope you can make it along – check out the lineup at their site here.

The All Story

Incantation of the Banksia Men
Synthetic polymer and gouache on board
40 x 40cm
2019

It’s been great to be part of the inaugural group exhibition at the new gallery and bookstore, The All Story , Newcastle NSW this month.

From the site –  Southerns is an exhibition that draws our mythic past into our present day. Over 30 local and international artists have been invited to reimagine a fictional Australian character or story.  While some artists celebrate the cultural impact of films such as Picnic at Hanging Rock and television shows such as Round The Twist, others reflect on changing social views with modern readings of the work of May Gibbs and other canonised authors.This show aims to entertain, provoke, and provide new ways of seeing your old favourites: from film and literature to urban legends.

My piece, Incantation of the Banksia Men is based on the antagonists from the May Gibbs classic mentioned above, and diverges from the descriptions and illustrations in the book. I took my inspiration from the very first of May Gibb’s books, which is considered a classic. What I found interesting about the infamous Banksia Men in the story was the way they were described as inherently evil. Framed as scheming kidnappers, their motives where never revealed, and I thought this was something that needed to be investigated in my painting.

Prosthetic Reality at UniSA

A little while back I was invited to join a group of international artists on a special little project called Prosthetic Reality. It’s an AR book that uses an app called Eyejack to bring the artworks on each page to life with animation and sound.

It’s now on display for the next few months at the University of South Australia MOD, so if you’re in the state drop in and see this and more exhibits that explore the intersection between art and science.