Stewart Westle

Stewart Westle
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About the Artists:

Stewart was born in Adelaide, 1952, where he developed a love for art at school. On
leaving school he committed to practice enthusiastically; he travelled throughout
Australia, Asia and Europe and, although largely self taught, completed several
painting courses on returning home.

His main practice has been painting in oils, although he has extended his skills to
include sculpture and installation. During his development years, Stewart was greatly
influenced by Fred Williams and John Olsen, among others. In latter years his
influences have included the art of Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Austrian artist and
architect, and the intimate relationship that Indigenous Australians have with their
land.

Westle says, “My aim as a artist and landscape painter is to express what being in
the bush means to me. My paintings speak of the precious moments when we take
time out to communicate with nature. The time we sit on the headlands and dream
about the future and reflect on the past, the times we walk along the lonely track and
wonder about the complexity of it all. The times we share friendship and just marvel
at the beauty of it all. It’s a wonderful world we live in, I strive for my paintings to
reflect some of that wonder.”

Westle’s love and enchantment for the Australian landscape and seascape is evident
in the colour, freedom of application and raw energy emanating from his paintings,
through which he has evolved a distinctive language for his landscapes. He believes
that his best paintings are executed in a near meditative state.

”My paintings speak of the precious moments when we
take time out to communicate with nature.”

Stewart uses his art to enhance his own sense of belonging. He currently lives in
Red Hill, a small town on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, where Family and
Community Involvement are integral to his daily life.

In recent years, Stewart has ventured into the world of sculpture, experimenting with
the use of locally sourced Red Gum, Driftwood and Glass. After starting with smaller
projects, Stewart began to make temporary large-scale artworks on the beaches up
and down the East Coast of Australia. These were momentary pieces of work made
from found beach jetsam that were washed away once the tide came in.

Recently Stewart was profiled at Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition with ‘S.O.S’; a
new form artwork involving burnt logs from his property, arranged in Morse code.

As Stewart’s art practice matures, his fascination with the shapes, textures and
colours of the natural world seems to be intensifying, translating into an ever-evolving
practice.

Résumé:

Exhibiting History:

2023 - Sorrento Beachy Art Soirée, Manyung Gallery Sorrento 

2022 - 'A Coastal Vision', Manyung Gallery Flinders 

2021 - "Walk With Me" exhibition at Manyung Art & Design, Mornington

2019 - "Precious Moments Communicating with Nature" exhibition at Manyung Gallery

2019 - "Embracing Australia" exhibition at Manyung Gallery, Sorrento

2019 - Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne

2018 - "On the Map" event, Manyung Gallery Art & Design, Mornington

2018 - Gulotti Galleries Perth, Western Austra lia

2017 - Sculpture selected for Montalto Sculpture Prize

2016 - Sculpture selected for Montalto Sculpture Prize

2016 - Sculpture selected for Yerring Station sculpture prize

2016 - Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne

2015 - Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne

2014 - "The Colours of Spring" group show, Manyung Gallery, Mount Eliza

2013 - "Craig Penny and Stewart Westle" exhibition, Manyung Gallery

2013 - Paintbox, Canberra

2013 - Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne

2012 - "Love Where You Live" exhibition, Manyung Gallery

2012 - TVH Gallery, Sydney

2011 - Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne

2011 - Paintbox, Canberra

2011 - Manyung Gallery, Mount Eliza

2009 - Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne

2009 - TVH Gallery, Sydney

2008 - Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne

2007 - Art Images Gallery, Adelaide

2007 - Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne

2007 - TVH Gallery, Sydney

2006 - Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne

2006 - TVH Gallery, Sydney

2005 - Manyung Gallery, Mount Eliza

2004 - TVH Gallery, Sydney

2003 - Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne

2001 - First Settlement Gallery, Melbourne

2000 - Art Images Gallery, Adelaide

1999 - First Settlement Gallery, Melbourne

1998 - Libby Edwards Gallery, Melbourne

1997 - First Settlement Gallery, Melbourne

1996 - Libby Edwards Gallery, Melbourne

1995 - Valerie Cohen Fine Art, Sydney

1994 - Libby Edwards Gallery, Melbourne

1993 - Libby Edwards Gallery, Melbourne

1993 - Graphics Fine Art, Sydney

1992 - First Settlement Gallery, Melbourne

1992 - Melaleuca Gallery, Melbourne

1991 - Libby Edwards Gallery, Melbourne

1990 - Libby Edwards Gallery, Melbourne

1989 - Melaleuca Gallery, Melbourne

1989 - Reflections Gallery, Melbourne

1989 - Casey Gallery, Sydney

1988 - Casey Gallery, Sydney

1987 - Noels Gallery, Melbourne

Statement:

"I was sitting on the waters edge at Mallacoota wondering why my paintings end up so busy. You see, so much painting is reduced to the bones these days and then it occurred to me, life is busy, nature is busy.

There were lizards sunning, ants working, lizards chasing ants, birds resting, birds feeding. Boats motoring, sailing and anchored, and leaves rustling gently in the wind. Men, women and children, fishing and hoping.

All this was what I saw, but what I didn't see, was much more.

It also occurred to me that we all depend on each other like the bird on the insect, the lizard on the ant, the boat on the water and with man presiding over it all.

Perhaps my paintings are a bit similar. The blue line depends on the red circle, which depends on the white dot and so on. When the harmony works and I express my joy for the life in the natural landscape I have created my dream."

Associated News

Associated Exhibitions

'Sail With Me'
Coastal Landscapes from Flinders to Sorrento
Stewart Westle

Manyung Gallery Art & Design 6/35 Progress Street, Mornington.
16 March - 28 March, 2024
View works on exhibition
'Peninsula Panoramas'
Perspectives From Ten Painters

Manyung Gallery Flinders
2 December - 21 December, 2023
View works on exhibition
Sorrento Beachy Art Soirée
Manyung Gallery Sorrento
14 January - 20 January, 2023
View works on exhibition
Stewart Westle
'A Coastal Visitation'

Manyung Gallery Flinders
17 September - 2 October, 2022
View works on exhibition
Stewart Westle
'Walk With Me'

Manyung Gallery Art & Design
20 March - 6 April, 2021
View works on exhibition
Summer Art Soirée | Jan 2nd
Manyung Gallery Sorrento
2 January - 8 January, 2021
View works on exhibition
The Affordable Online Art Fair
Manyung Gallery Artists
4 November - 30 November, 2020
View works on exhibition
Summer @ Flinders

Manyung Gallery Flinders
6 December, 2019 - 28 January, 2020
View works on exhibition
Stewart Westle | Embracing Australia
Manyung Gallery Sorrento
26 January - 6 February, 2019
View works on exhibition
On The Map Event
Big Art - Factory 8
28 April - 28 April, 2018
View works on exhibition
'The Art Of Giving' - VIP Christmas Event
Manyung Gallery Mt Eliza
7 December - 7 December, 2017
View works on exhibition
'Of The Sea' - Group Exhibition Of Sculpture & Paintings
Manyung Gallery Mt Eliza
20 October - 31 October, 2017
View works on exhibition
Sculptures in Sorrento
Manyung Gallery Sorrento
13 April - 30 April, 2017
View works on exhibition
Sorrento Christmas Exhibition
Manyung Gallery Sorrento
27 November - 20 December, 2015
View works on exhibition
New Interiors Exhibition
Manyung Gallery Malvern
7 November - 29 November, 2015
View works on exhibition
Deserts, Plains and Forests
Manyung Gallery Sorrento
2 April - 4 May, 2015
View works on exhibition
The Colours of Spring
Mount Eliza Gallery
6 September - 28 September, 2014
View works on exhibition
Craig Penny and Stewart Westle
Manyung at Sorrento
7 December - 26 December, 2013
View works on exhibition
Stewart Westle 'Love Where You Live'
Also featuring new works by Ross Wilsmore
3 November - 19 November, 2012
View works on exhibition