James Gleeson (born 21 November1915) is one of Australia's most well known surrealist artists, as well as a poet, critic, writer and curator. He has played a significant role in the Australian art scene.
Gleeson was born in Sydney where he attended East Sydney Technical College. It was here he was drawn to work of the likes of Salvador Dali, Giorgio de Chirico and Max Ernst. In 1938 he studied at Sydney Teacher's College where he gained two years training in general primary school teaching. At this time he became interested in the writings of psychologists such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. These would become influences for his artworks.
Gleeson's themes generally delved into the subconscious using literary, mythological or religious subject matter. He was particularly interested in Jung’s archetypes of the collective unconscious.
During the 50s and 60s he moved away from surrealism to a more symbolic perspective, exploring notions of human perfectibility, although today his art work is generally large scale paintings exploring 'landscapes of the mind.'
External links
Grandi Artisi - James Gleeson (http://www.nicolarandone.com/arte/gleeson.htm) - collection of paintings
Eva Breuer Art Dealer (http://www.evabreuerartdealer.com.au/gleeson.html) - more paintings
JamesGleeson's connection with the University of Sydney began when he was a student at Sydney Teachers College at the University in 1937, following a period studying art at East Sydney Technical College.
Gleeson has said, "The idea of the theme was to suggest not simply what it seemed to be, but seeds for destruction of civilization-seeds of warfare and violence." One of the intriguing aspects of his art is Gleeson's alternation between "beauty and the beast" within the same painting.
JamesGleeson is a superb painter with masterly painting skills allied to a rich and astonishing imagination.
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