Emerging artists Bronwyn Brady and Susan Montano are alumni students of St. George School of Fine Art, TAFE, 2015.  Graphite & Linseed is an exhibition showcasing the culmination of a years’ art practice along with exploration of materials and concepts from the perspective of these two artists.

Bronwyn Brady is an emerging artist currently based in Sydney, Australia.  Recently, Bronwyn has developed a body of work responding to the theme of shelter in relation to the individual.  This includes physical shelters and structures, places or items that offer safety and protection, as well as emotional shelters in the form of community, relationships, sense of belonging, and spiritual connectedness.

Particularly she is interested in the emotional sense of being sheltered that comes from belonging within one’s environment and community – what is left when this is gone?  In Graphite and Linseed, Bronwyn presents a series of graphite drawings and sculptures aiming to convey a sense of envelopment or enclosure, shelter and comfort.

Susan Montano’s work depicts landscapes on both literal and emotional levels.  Growing up immersed in bushland, the Australian landscape imprinted onto her feelings of connection, awe and excitement.  These emotions, as well as the physical beauty of the country, are integral to her paintings and earthenware.

Her body of work reflects this as the artworks move from a literal to an emotive depiction of the landscape.  Early works focus on accuracy in their portrayal of the bush, then become more abstracted, with perspective flattened and warped, lines and shapes exaggerated and colour pushed.  Later works seek to capture the essence of the landscape and Susan’s perspective on it.  These abstract works begin with a simple idea, then evolve as they discover themselves and their destination along the way.  Unifying these works is Susan’s keen interest in the depiction of light and the unique colours of the Australian bush.

Graphite & Linseed brings these two diverse collections together, traversing the contours of inner and outer landscape alike.