Artist Statement
I’m a Visual Artist from Melbourne Australia, who lives and works in Philadelphia USA; My art practice primarily explores the dualities of the human experience. Intrigued by the cyclic nature of history and inspired by street culture my oil paintings manifest largely as portraits or imagery of gathered figures. Packed with allegory I create visual anecdotes that aim to implicitly tackle current events and examine socio-political themes like good vs evil. Over the years, my artwork has developed a distinct style, a revived form of Cubism that meets semi-abstraction where I basically deconstruct reality and then rebuild it into a representational likeness using geometric cuboid blocks and brushstrokes akin to alla prima painting.
Bio
Australian born in 1977, Wade grew up fully immersed in Melbourne's skateboard and graffiti culture, spearheading one of the city’s most notorious graffiti crew. Graduating in 1999 from Monash University with a Bachelor of Fine Art (Majoring in Painting) he was awarded the prize "Most Prominent 3rd Year Painter". In 2001 he completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Animation and Interactive Design at RMIT University, where his final animated-work “The 5:19” was invited to debut at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
In 2003 to 2017 Wade worked full-time as a commercial Illustrator-Animator & Art Director. In 2015 Wade returned focus back towards his primary passion of oil painting and in 2017 his portrait of the former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett was exhibited at the Glen Eira City Council Gallery where it won the 'people’s choice award' for best painting.
Wade has exhibited in both major Australian cities and within the United States of America. He currently resides in the city of Philadelphia PA, USA with his wife and four children where he has been actively working full-time on developing his contemporary art practice. Wade's work has been shown at the National Gallery of Victoria and are included in the collections of prominent Australian Universities; RMIT and Monash as well as other private collector collections across the globe.
Artist CV
Wade Gregory Clark
Born Melbourne, Australia. Lives in Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
Education
1996 Diploma of Visual Art (Painting), RMIT University, Melbourne VIC
1999 Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting), Monash University, Melbourne VIC
2001 Post Graduate Diploma in Animation & Interactive Media, RMIT University, Melbourne VIC
Exhibitions
2020 "TRFE 2020" - TINY ROOM FOR ELEPHANTS FESTIVAL 2020, Cherry Street Pier, Philadelphia PA, USA
'RISE' an exhibition to benefit those impacted by the Australian Bush fires, Carriageworks, Sydney NSW, AUS
'Threefold', a Pop-Up Art Show, Group Exhibition, Gallery space:1903 S Carmac St, Philadelphia PA, USA
2019 'PORTRAITS', GEAS Celebrating the 10th year anniversary, Glen Eira City Council Gallery Annex, Caulfield VIC, AUS
'TIME' , Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Group Exhibition, Caulfield VIC, AUS
2018 Let's Connect Exhibition, Barnes Foundation, Group Exhibition, Philadelphia PA, USA
Just Looking, Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Group Exhibition, Caulfield VIC, AUS
2017 Private Lives... Public Spaces, Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Group Exhibition, Caulfield VIC, AUS
2016 Cityscape - Elsternwick, Glen Eira City Council Annex Gallery, Group Exhibition, Caulfield VIC, AUS
Hidden Treasures, Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Group Exhibition Caulfield VIC, AUS
2015 The Voice of the Artist, SCOPE Art Fair, See Me Booth (B27), Group ExhibitionMiami Beach, FL USA
Postcard Show, LINDEN NEW ART, Group Exhibition, St Kilda VIC, AUS
GEAS Members Exhibition, The Breslin Gallery, Group Exhibition Carnegie VIC, AUS
Views, Visions and Vistas, Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Group Exhibition, Caulfield VIC, AUS
Marriott Art exhibition & Auction, Marriott House, Group Exhibition & Auction, McKinnon VIC, AUS
2014 'Belle Arti Prize', Chapman & Bailey Artspace, Group Exhibition, Abbotsford VIC, AUS
Postcard Show, Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts, Group Exhibition, St Kilda VIC, AUS
The World About Us, The Breslin Gallery, Group Exhibition, Carnegie VIC, AUS
'See & Feel The World...', Glen Eira City Council Gallery, Group Exhibition, Caulfield VIC, AUS
2013 Paint in the Park, Glen Eira City Council Gallery, GEAS Group Exhibition, Caulfield VIC, AUS
2009 Postcard Show, Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts, Group Exhibition, St Kilda VIC, AUS
2008 Ecstatic City, Chris Doyle's Multi-Media Project, National Gallery of Victoria / Melbourne International Arts Festival. VIC, AUS
2005 AIM 13, ACMI Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne VIC, AUS
2003 New Art On Show, The Art Scene Gallery, Group Exhibition, West Ryde NSW, AUS
Best of AIM at ACMI, ACMI Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne VIC, AUS
2002 MIFF - Melbourne International Film Festival, Grater Union, Melbourne VIC, AUS
BIFF - Brisbane International Film Festival, Exploratorium, Brisbane QLD, AUS
Eat Carpet, SBS Television - Eat Carpet, Melbourne, VIC, AUS
2001 Mode, Chapel Off Chapel Gallery, Group Exhibition, Prahran VIC, AUS
AIM Graduate Screening, Story Hall Auditorium RMIT, Melbourne VIC, AUS
2000 The Artary Show, Artary Gallery, Group Exhibition, Regent VIC, AUS
1999 The D block Show, Monash University, Group Exhibition, Caulfield VIC, AUS
Midway - New art from Monash, Indigo Studios Gallery, Group Exhibition, Hartwell VIC, AUS
1998 On the Line, Monash University, Group Exhibition, Caulfield VIC, AUS
1995 Arts Show, Cottage Theatre, Swinburne SSC, Group Exhibition, Hawthorn VIC, AUS
Prizes / Awards
2019 2ed Place Peoples Choice Award (for best artwork), Presented by Rotary Club of Caulfield, Melbourne VIC, AUS
2017 1st Place Peoples Choice Award (for best artwork), Presented by Rotary Club of Caulfield, Melbourne VIC, AUS
1999 Prize awarded for most prominent 3rd-year painter, Presented by Monash University Melbourne VIC, AUS
1995 Highly Commended Certificate for Art, Swinburne Annual Art & Media Awards, Hawthorn VIC, AUS
Press
2015 Glen Eira News, A display of young talent, Volume 204, Page 8, May 2015.
2006 Inner West Courier, Archibald entrant goes around the twist, Sally Fleming, August 1 2006.
2002 Diamond Valley Leader, Debut at film festival - The 5:19, Natalie Birch, July 24 2002.
Publications
The Voice of the Artist Collection Book (SCOPE Art Show Miami 2015), William Etundi Jr, SeeMe Press, March 2016.
Sneak Attack – Catalogue, Sally Braunstein, Nothing Press House, June 2007.
Aktifmag – magazine covers, Kane Ludic, Aktif Publishing, Issue 7, July 2006 & Issue 3, September 2005.
Trash (Cover & Content) - Skateboarding Film, Directed by Eddie Martin, Fluid Productions, January 1999.
Inside out & back to front – magazine, Jenny Tang, The Press Gang, November 1995.
Art Talks & Mentoring
2015 Art Judge, Youth Art Expo, City of Glen Eira's Youth Leadership Team, South Caulfield VIC, AUS
Art Mentor, GEAS Mentoring Sessions, Glen Eira Artists Society, South Caulfield VIC, AUS
2014 Art Facilitator, CITYSCAPE - Art In the Urban Environment, Koornang Road - Carnegie VIC, AUS
Live painting on Stage, 'Portraits Alive' Finalist, FCA, Pullman hotel, St Kilda VIC, AUS
Painting Tutor, GEAS Mentoring Sessions, Glen Eira Artists Society, South Caulfield VIC, AUS
2013 Public Painting, Paint In the Park, Glen Eira Artists Society, South Caulfield VIC, AUS
2002 Life Drawing Instructor, Arts on Burgundy, Heidelberg VIC, AUS
Public Art Project - Muralist, The MCH Exchange Outreach & Mental Wellbeing Festival, Broadmeadows VIC, AUS
2000 Life Drawing Instructor, Arts on Burgundy, Heidelberg VIC, AUS
Travel
Extensive world travel and art research visiting major galleys in the Americas, United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
Gallery highlights include; The Metropolitan Museum of art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Museo, MOMA, SOFA,
Nacional Del Prado, Musée Du Louvre & KHM - Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Collections
Amtek corp Art Collection, Amtek Corporation Pty Ltd, Melbourne VIC, AUS
Monash University Art Collection, Monash University, Caulfield VIC, AUS
The Centre for Animation & Interactive Media, RMIT University, Melbourne VIC, AUS
Private Collections in Melbourne, Sydney, London, Prague, New York and Las Vegas.
Ask Wade a question about an artwork or enquire about purchasing a painting or commissioning a portrait?