Pete Groves is a visual artist living in Melbourne, Australia. Pete grew up on the outskirts of the Yarra Valley spending much of his time as a kid, kicking around in paddocks, mingling with menageries of animals, climbing trees, playing in creeks and dams—creating endless adventures and fuelling his imagination.
After graduating from university, Pete took off to explore other countries. He ended up living in Mexico for several years where he developed a deep appreciation for the storytelling and symbolism in the work of Mexican artists, which became a significant influence on his decision to begin painting and on his own artistic approach.
Pete’s art is an exploration of his observations and experiences, as he seeks to recreate his unique visual and emotional interpretations, layering shape, line and colour.
“My art is an exploration. Combining observations and experiences, I work to re-create my own visual and emotional constructs that I weave into stories, blending together shape, line and colour.
“I like intersecting nature, people and animals and representing the subtle impacts they have on each other and how they blend together.”
“I paint because I love the constant challenge of problem solving, knowing there is no answer, just little wins and positive steps forward, and possibly an artwork that someone will one day hang on their wall and enjoy for many years.”
Pete Groves graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Swinburne Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. Over the past 30 years, Pete’s work has been regularly exhibited in many successful solo and select group exhibitions. Pete’s work can also be seen in numerous murals in Australia and overseas, theatre sets, children’s book illustrations, wine labels, posters and book covers.
Pete’s work is represented in private collections in Australia, USA, Japan and UK, including the BHP Billiton London collection. The positive and uplifting nature of Pete’s work is often seen in healthcare settings, such as the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Western Australia and Southern Health Art Gallery at Monash Medical Centre in Victoria, Australia.
Solo Exhibitions:
2022 – ‘Green Hills and Sweeping Fields’, Manyung Gallery Flinders
2014 - Affordable Art Fair Singapore, Singapore
2014 - Group One, Art Images Gallery, Adelaide Australia
2014 - Recent Paintings, Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne Australia
2013 - Recent Paintings,Manyung Gallery, Melbourne
2012 - Recent Paintings, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne Australia
2012 - Recent paintings, Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne Australia
2011 - Recent Paintings, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne Australia
2011 - Recent Paintings, Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide Australia
2010 - Recent Paintings, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne Australia
2010 - Recent paintings, Without Pier Gallery, Melbourne Australia
2010 - Recent Paintings, Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide Australia
2009 - Recent Paintings, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne Australia
2008 - Recent Paintings, Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide Australia
2008 - Recent Paintings, Art Establishment/Cruz, Melbourne Australia
2007 - Avian Encounters, Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide Australia
2006 - Recent Paintings, Cruz Galleries, Melbourne Australia
2006 - Recent Paintings, Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide, Australia
2005 - Recent Paintings, Cruz Galleries, Melbourne Australia
2005 - Recent Paintings, Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide, Australia
2004 - Urban nesting, Gallery Newquay, Melbourne, Australia
2004 - Garden Series, ArtEstablishment, Melbourne, Australia
2003 - Inside, Out and About, Gasworks, Melbourne, Australia
2002 - Recent Paintings, Gasworks, Melbourne, Australia
2001 - Buoyant, Gasworks, Melbourne, Australia
2000 - Halcyon, Watchtower Studio Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
1999 - Trees, Tribes and Beaches, Watchtower Studio Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
1998 - Mexico en Espiritu, Watchtower Studio Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
1997 - Pete Groves, Casa Collection Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 – ‘A Splash of Colour in Nature’, Manyung Gallery Strathmore
2023 – ‘Abstract Landscape Art Soirée’, Manyung Gallery Flinders
2021 – ‘Enchantment with Nature’, Manyung Gallery Malvern
2020 – ‘Trees and Cows’, Virtual exhibition, Manyung Gallery
2020 – ‘Abstracts and Impressions’, Manyung Gallery, Flinders
2015 – ‘Autum Awakening’ Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza
2007 to 2014 - Canterbury Art Show
2011 to 2014 - Art Red Hill
2014 - Affordable Art Fair Singapore
2007 - Manyung Gallery February exhibition / feature artist, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2004 - Bridge. Toyota community spirit, Toyota community spirit gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2004 - Carey Arts Council Exhibition, Carey Grammar, Melbourne, Australia
2003 - 120 Degrees of Separation, Selected Contemporary Artists of Australia, Linden Bark Modern Art, Hong Kong
2003 - St Kilda Bowling Club Studios, Metropolis Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2003 - Selected Contemporary Artists of Australia, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2003 - Canterbury Art Exhibition, Canterbury School, Melbourne, Australia
2002 - Manyung Gallery December Exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2002 - Artists at Treasury Place, Deputy Premier’s Office, Melbourne, Australia
2002 - Carey Arts Council Exhibition, Carey Grammar, Melbourne, Australia
2002 - Canterbury Art Exhibition, Canterbury School, Melbourne, Australia
2002 - Manyung Gallery March Exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2001 - Views of the Mornington Peninsula, Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2001 - Artists at Treasury Place, Deputy Premier’s Office, Melbourne, Australia
2001 - Artists at Treasury Place, Deputy Premier’s Office, Melbourne, Australia
2000 - Emerging Artists Calendar Launch, South Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne, Australia
2000 - St Kilda Studios at Alliance Française, Alliance Française, Melbourne, Australia
2000 - Carey Arts Council Exhibition, Carey Grammar, Melbourne, Australia
2000 - Watchtower Studio Gallery, Watchtower Studio Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
1998 - Watchtower Studio Gallery, Watchtower Studio Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Other Group Exhibitions:
2003 - Art Redhill, Redhill School, Melbourne, Australia
2003 - Linden Postcard Exhibition, Linden Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2002 - Art Redhill, Redhill School, Melbourne, Australia
2002 - Linden Postcard Exhibition, Linden Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2001 - Art Redhill, Redhill School, Melbourne, Australia
2001 - Linden Postcard Exhibition, Linden Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2000 - Linden Postcard Exhibition, Linden Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
1999 - Linden Postcard Exhibition, Linden Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
1998 - St Kevin’s College Annual Art Show, Melbourne, Australia
Works in Print
2002 Upstream, printed and distributed by Geometrics Artworks (2 print-runs)
2002 Riverbanks, printed and distributed by Geometrics Artworks (2 print-runs)
Books:
2010 - Potato Music (picture book) Omnibus Books, Illustrator Pete Groves, Author Christina Booth
2003 - Selected Contemporary Artists of Australia, 2003, Michael Berry, Random.
Feature Articles/Publications:
2004 There’s an art to being cynical Megan Backhouse,The Age, 18.12.04
2004 Weekender Dani valent,Goodweekend, The age 18.12.04
2004 Backyard Beauty Felicity Allen, The Big Picture, Herald Sun 4.8.04
2004 Canterbury Art Exhibition Calendar
2003 Sunday Arts Show, Peter Clarke, ABC 774
2003 Painting Everyday Life, Kate Ubergang, Port Phillip Leader
2003 Inside, Out and About, Melbourne City Weekly
2003 Diary, Susannah McGregor, Domain
2000 Halcyon, Inside Melbourne
2000 The Art of Time, Good Weekend
2000 10 Things to Do, The Age
2000 Cow Mad, The Age
2000 Halcyon, Emerald Hill Times
1999 Symbolism, Colours and Icons, Sara Hickey, Port Phillip Leader
1998 Out There, Port Phillip Leader
1998 The Talk of the Town, Mornington Peninsula Leader
Murals:
Children's Ward Frankston Hospital
Salties Restaurant, Flinders, Australia
Garlic Kiss Restaurant, Mornington, Australia
Restaurant Fandango, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico
Collections and Commissions:
BHP Billiton London and private collections in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Cagnes Sur Mer and Tokyo