Sydney Ball’s oeuvre is expansive and diverse with each series in his 50 year career marked by a monumental and dynamic change. In 2013 Sullivan + Strumpf will be honouring this important artist’s 80th birthday with a book and the following exhibitions;
As part of Sydney Contemporary, October Fields, a grand scale painting from Ball’s ‘Stain series’ of the 1970s will be installed alongside a collection of smaller pieces, including recent works.
“The Stain paintings are one of the triumphs of Australian art in the 1970s… How good it is to see them again and what miracles of vitality and enterprise they are. Like all major works of art, they renew the senses and the soul.”
– Patrick McCaughey, 2013, foreword to Sydney Ball: The Stain Paintings 1971 – 80
Sydney Contemporary is on at Carriageworks from 19 – 22 September 2013
Sullivan + Strumpf will also present a selection of the Stain paintings dating from the 1970’s, some of which have never been exhibited. Started in New York and finished in Australia these ambitious, dynamic and grand-scale paintings positioned Ball firmly as an artist in conversation with the international movement. At the time many of these works were immediately taken up by significant collections throughout Australia, including most State collections.
Oceania 1977-78, 303 x 372 cm, acrylic on canvas
Sydney Ball ‘The Stain Paintings 1971-1980’ in conversation with Wendy Walker from Sullivan + Strumpf on Vimeo.
The Stain Paintings 1971 – 80 will be exhibited at Sullivan + Strumpf from 22 October – 16 November 2013.
Habitus 21 is on sale September 26. Subscribe to Habitus here.