Ron at his studio
Photograph: Michael Zanetti
Monday 3 February 2025, 10—11AM
Benalla Art Gallery welcomes esteemed artist Ron Robertson-Swann who will present a talk about his practice for the first First Mondays session of the year. Robertson-Swann’s exhibition, Illusion and Gravity: 1960s and 70s painting and sculpture from the artist’s collection, is currently on display in the Simpson Gallery.
Robertson-Swann’s most controversial and famous sculpture Vault – known as the Yellow Peril – was commissioned for Melbourne City Square in 1980 before being, as Ron puts it, banished. Vault now lives happily on the forecourt of the Australian Centre of Contemporary Art in Southbank, Melbourne.
About the Artist
Ron Robertson-Swann’s career spans over five decades – as an artist, teacher, mentor and as an advocate for sculpture in public spaces. Best known as a sculptor, painting is a vital element of his practice, and he produces both from his Botany studio in Sydney.
Born in Sydney in 1941, he studied under Lyndon Dadswell at the National Art School before moving to the UK in the early 60s to study under Anthony Caro and Philip King at St Martin’s – while also assisting Henry Moore in his studio north of London. Without the resources to make steel sculpture during this time he dedicated his energy to painting, influenced heavily by Morris Louis and the hard-edge colour-field painters of the era. In 1965 Clement Greenberg awarded Robertson-Swann first prize in the junior section of the John Moore Painting Prize in Liverpool; in 1968 he was included in The Field exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria; and in 1969 he won the Transfield Prize.
On his return to Sydney he continued to paint while his sculpture practice grew. Major commissions of public sculpture included Vertex in Devonport in 1980, Leviathan at Play in Brisbane in 1984, and Paradisio for the Sydney Festival in 1999. Robertson-Swann was Head of Sculpture at the National Art School from 2009-2018.
Robertson-Swann has exhibited extensively in both Australia and overseas and his works are included in all major public Australian collections. His works are held in international collections including: Amstar Corporation, USA; Collection of Sir Anthony Caro OM CBE, UK; Leicester Education Authority, UK, and the Duncan Collection, New Zealand. Robertson-Swann has been a regular exhibitor at Sculpture by the Sea, in Bondi and Cottesloe, on multiple occasions from 2000 to 2019, and at Aarhus, Denmark in 2009 and 2015. In 2017 he was the recipient of the Helen Lempriere Scholarship.
Robertson-Swann is currently represented by Australian Galleries in NSW and Charles Nodrum Gallery in Victoria.
https://www.ronrobertson-swann.com/
Registration essential: T 03 5760 2619 or gallery@benalla.vic.gov.au
Cost: $2