We've been very busy at Wentworth Galleries lately and much of our time has been spent in the delightful pursuit of new work. We've been lucky enough to add some fabulous artists to our stable and it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you, Lori Pensini, Chris Wake, Willy Sheather and Terry Pauline-Price.

Lori Pensini. The sunset messenger. 76cm x 101cm.

Those of you already familiar with the paintings of some or all of these artists will no doubt recognise the originality and talent of these Australian painters. We have, new in stock a selection of works by these artists along with brilliant new paintings by Henryk Szydlowski, Ben Stack and Ken Knight.

Wentworth Galleries are making it even easier to acquire art with the introduction of 12 months interest free on art purchases. As expected, this is to approved applicants only and terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. Having said all that, it's still a great way to get beautiful artwork on your walls immediately.

We still offer our usual outstanding services including free home or office trials throughout Sydney, free delivery and hanging and a 2 year exchange guarantee.

We're coming to the end of another year (and another decade*) so I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your support. Without your interest in and passion for art, we wouldn't be here. We absolutely love art, we love being surrounded by it every day and we love being given the opportunity to place it in the homes and offices of Australia and throughout the world.

Our warmest wishes to you, your families and friends. Have a safe and happy break, an excellent celebration and we look forward to seeing you in the new year.

If you own a business you have just 2 weeks until you have to give yourself a swift kick because you missed the art purchase tax deduction. All that is required by December 31 is a 25% deposit. Make your move this week and take advantage of this remarkable opportunity to acquire artwork by one of Australia's leading artists. The tax deduction (up to 50%) is very straight forward and easy to claim.

As a further incentive we're offering our collector members an extra 2.5% discount until December 31.

The Essence of Being

A new exhibition of paintings by John Maitland opens on December 2nd at our Gallery on the foyer level of the Sofital Wentworth Hotel, Sydney. 

John Maitland’s innovative style is created and conceived outdoors.

His pigments are mixed with organic and inorganic material and applied by his hand to bond with archival substrates to the support.

These are left outside, exposed to the elements, including the extreme heat of the sun. The built-up layers are encouraged to crack and fissure to give an aged appearance resembling archaic surfaces.

Dynamic and aggressive gestures are used to build up layers of paint which impart heavy texture and impasto. Broad, sweeping brush strokes and the brutality of paint application give rawness and beauty in an understated and sometimes unfinished way, thus the paradox of strength versus gentleness contributing to the evocative power and distinctive characteristics of Maitland’s style.

In some instances his work may seem näive, even primitive, with its flatness of planes and decorative effects. However, this is not so as proportions and space are carefully calculated with great precision to achieve his striking expressive style.

His flat colour and form, including facial features and bodily shapes, do not always reflect reality but that is unique to him as the artist.

In his latest exhibition Maitland has completed a number of works in red, a colour for which he is renowned. There are few artists who can match his versatility with this powerful primary. Some works have gold accompaniments serving to complement richness and impart luminosity to the myriad textures.

In quite a few works these elements have been used to underscore the isolation and alienation of youth. Expressed in the interdependence of landscape and figure, paintings that at first appear joyful and exuberant have an edge to them with frailty and vulnerability being exposed.