Following the succès d’estime of his June 2024 exhibit at Art2Muse, Northern Beaches artist Jakey Pedro returns to the Woollahra space with a contemporary body of work, on view 15 – 28 July 2025. Known for his ebullient, large-scale canvases that amalgamate acrylic, enamel and oil stick into depictions of cowboys and rodeos, Pedro’s frivolous paintings draw on his Queensland childhood and ongoing immersion in surf culture.
“Rodeos are a metaphor for life’s wild ride,” notes Jakey Pedro. “You’re on the horse, it’s bucking, and you’re partly in and out of control. Sometimes you get thrown off the horse; other times you tame the beast.” This thematic energy carries into his practice – bold pastel block colours and soft, gestural oil strokes conjure the balminess of the countryside.
Pedro – who took up painting full-time during the 2020 lockdown – continues to explore the iconography of the West, seeing himself in every figure. The recurring cowboy hat is a subtle nod to the crown in Basquiat’s paintings. “I loved creating these bold, large-scale paintings to make a space a home. These textural paintings resemble how my son (Ryka) teaches me to paint like a child again.”
The practice will also feature in an upcoming collaboration between Art2Muse Gallery and Totem Road, celebrated for their sustainable, handmade oak furniture. “Totem Road’s ethos of sustainability and the timeless quality of their handmade solid oak furniture make it the perfect brand for a collaboration with Art2Muse Gallery to showcase a range of artists in their Paddington store,” says Katrina Hampton, Director of Art2Muse Gallery. “I believe the juxtaposition between my work and Totem Road’s craftsmanship will stand the test of time,” adds Pedro.
