MITCHELL ENGLISH
CHILDREN OF THE SUN
11 NOVEMBER – 28 NOVEMBER 2022
Public Opening: 5pm – 8pm 11th November
This November, we are thrilled to announce Mitchell English will make his return to the Sydney art scene with his solo exhibition at Sketch Co. Gallery, Children of the Sun. After retreating up the north coast, the Bondi born and bred artist is coming home.
Children of the Sun showcases Mitchell’s latest body of work that explores figures in coastal landscapes. Motels, shacks, surf clubs and balconies are all synonymous with beach life. Through an authentic connection, Mitchell investigates how people experience the beach, how we move, feel and behave, celebrating our famous Aussie beach culture.
“There’s a sense of repose here. A sense of being washed clean not just by the ocean or the post-surf shower, but also by the experience of the beach. In Australia, the beach is the ultimate egalitarian space: the great leveller. It’s free; open to all…
I like to play with the idea that the figures I paint could be anyone, from all walks of life. At the beach, our very existence is pared back to what we all share: our bodies, our skin, our time spent in the water and under the sun.”
– MITCHELL ENGLISH
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Based in Noosa, Mitchell’s studio is walking distance from the beach, and so it’s only natural that the beach makes its way into the studio and his artwork.
An avid surfer and certified beach bum, Mitchell revolves his life and furthermore, his artist practice, around the beach. His paintings speak of time wasted beautifully in search of the perfect wave. Totally enamored by the lifestyle that is so uniquely Australian, Mitchell explores the connection so many of us share with the sea, sand and surf.
Mitchell is a mid-career artist who has exhibited extensively at home and abroad. His work is held in private and public collections including the Sydney Powerhouse Museum, Bannisters Hotel Group and Bega Regional Gallery.
ARTWORKS
ABOUT THE ARTIST
JUDE HOTCHKISS
My journey in art practice started at the College of Fine Art in Paddington Sydney, completing a Visual Arts Degree majoring in Conceptual Art and then a Masters in Painting. Coming from an isolated regional area this was my first experience of the art world and the many techniques that an artist could use. It was overwhelming, but inspired a passion that has continued and developed.