Small Man’s Problems

Robert McLeod

44 Roslyn Gardens, Elizabeth Bay, NSW 2011.

+61 2 8353 3500 / +61 2 439 776 655

10th October - 3rd November 2012

ROBERT MCLEODRob McLeod is a painter based in Wellington, New Zealand, where he has lived now for 40 years. Originally from Glasgow,

he came down south in search of new horizons in 1972, and has never left.

His exuberant cartoon-based figures of stressed office workers, mummies, mutant Mickeys, banshees and ogres, seem to

literally leap off the walls, trespassing into the viewer’s space. Not restricted by the parameters of a frame, McLeod’s creatures

are cut out of marine plywood. Crossing into the domain of installation and sculpture, they can be propped against walls,

occupy corners of rooms and thereby provide endless visual hooks.

These are paintings set on testing boundaries, more particularly the line between repulsion and fascination. The limits of

painting and its relationship with the viewer are continually challenged. Wildly idiosyncratic yet formally and conceptually

complex, these paintings confound and unsettle. They taunt their audience to look and think again, to work or laugh harder.

As McLeod explains “The cartoon-inspired characters are familiar and initially endearing. They are sometimes benign and

harmless but more often aggressive and with a dark underside. They can be unpleasant and violent but, as in a cartoon,

nobody stays hurt or feels real pain. This is a painted reality. Everyone recovers.”

McLeod constantly extends the experience of painting as something to be both made and encountered. He challenges the way

painting can operate in and on the contemporary world, and its relationship to other media like sculpture, installation and

video. McLeod argues that to remain relevant painting must force active viewing rather than passive contemplation. Painting

‘needs to do more than sit quietly on the wall’. It must meet its audience on other terms, in other ways, while always remaining

resolutely painting.

Trained at Glasgow School of Art, McLeod graduated with a Diploma of Art, Drawing and Painting in 1969. After leaving art

school, he moved into abstraction, which continued well into the late nineties. It wasn’t until 1999 that figuration started

reappearing in his work. By 2002 all his painting was completely figurative. From this point on, McLeod slowly developed his

pastiche of vaudeville-meets-Looney Tunes characters with an overlay of imagery from his early life in Glasgow.

An extensive exhibition history that dates from 1985, he has been the recipient of several art awards. His work is included in

several significant private collections including the James Wallace Collection, Auckland as well as several institutions such as

the Te Papa Museum in Wellington and The Auckland City Gallery, Auckland. This is McLeod’s first exhibition with Michael

Reid at Elizabeth Bay.

LIST OF ARTWORKS

Small Man Alone, 2011Oil and enamel on marine ply98 x 56cm

Small Man Hiding a Problem, 2011Oil and enamel on marine ply105 x 62cm

Small Man Rejecting a Past, 2011Oil and enamel on marine ply105 x 83cm

Small Man Running away from a Problem, 2011Oil and enamel on marine ply99 x 96cm

Small Man Saved, 2012Oil and enamel on marine ply95 x 90cm

Small Man’s Pleasures, 2012Oil and enamel on marine ply136 x 60cm

Three Sketches for Small Man Stressed, 2012Oil and enamel on marine ply88.5 x 25cm / 81.5 x 20cm / 87.5 x 30cm

The Three Graces, 2011Oil and enamel on marine plyEach figure measuring 290 x 60cm

Small Man Alone, 2011Oil and enamel on marine ply

98 x 56cm

Small Man Hiding a Problem, 2011Oil and enamel on marine ply

105 x 62cm

Small Man Rejecting a Past, 2011Oil and enamel on marine ply

105 x 83cm

Small Man Running away from a Problem, 2011Oil and enamel on marine ply

99 x 96cm

Small Man Saved, 2012Oil and enamel on marine ply

95 x 90cm

Small Man’s Pleasures, 2012Oil and enamel on marine ply

136 x 60cm

Three Sketches for Small Man Stressed, 2012Oil and enamel on marine ply

88.5 x 25cm / 81.5 x 20cm / 87.5 x 30cm

The Three Graces, 2011Oil and enamel on marine ply

Each figure measuring 290 x 60cm

ROBERT MCLEODBorn Glasgow 1948Glasgow School of Art, 1965 – 1969 Diploma of Art, Drawing and Painting Arrived New Zealand 1972

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Michael Reid at Elizabeth Bay, Sydney

City Gallery, Wellington. Supporting Partick Thistle, Paintings, Rob McLeod

Tauranga Art Gallery, Mixing Different Heavens

Bath Street Gallery, Auckland. The 3 Graces Struggle With The Goochi Handbag

Auckland Art Fair. Proud To Commit Commercial Suicide. With Paulnache Gallery, Gisborne

Paulnache, Gisborne. Small Men, Imperialists, Impostors Imperialists and Banshees

Beatty Gallery at Mary Place, Sydney, Imperialists, Impostors, Banshees and Small Stories

Bath Street Gallery, Auckland. Large Paintings

The Pencil Gallery, Gisborne. The Not Poussin Paintings

Campbell Grant Gallery, Christchurch. Pages From The DMB

Dunedin Public Art Gallery. No Stop, No Pause, No Fast Forward

Edmiston Duke Gallery, Auckland. Giving Colour to Mister Serious and Other Works

Expressions Arts Centre, Upper Hutt, The Rob McLeod Show (Mickey Paintings)

Eastern Southland Gallery, Gore. No stop, No Pause, No Fast Forward

Judith Anderson Gallery, Hawkes Bay. Paintings, 1995 to 2005

Southland Museum and Art Gallery, Invercargill. No Stop, No Pause, No Fast Forward

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

The Pencil Gallery, Gisborne. To Mickey

Campbell Grant Gallery, Christchurch. Large Paintings

Edmiston Duke Gallery, Auckland. Talking About Art and Other Small Paintings

Bowen Galleries, Wellington. True Kiwi Content and Puppet Games

Campbell Grant Gallery, Christchurch. Thin Culture and Other Painting

Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland. Pointless Political Piece and Other Paintings

Pataka Museum, Porirua, A Long Way Home: Three Decades Of Painting

Ashburton Art Gallery, Ashburton. Meet Mutant Mickey

Bowen Galleries, Wellington, Small Mickey Paintings

Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland. Meet Rapunzel, Mutant Mickey, Joseph and Other Large Paintings

Bowen Galleries, Wellington, Meet Mutant Mickey

Campbell Grant Gallery, Christchurch, Small Shelf Paintings

University of Canterbury, Fine Arts Gallery, Large Shelf Paintings

Bowen Galleries, Wellington, Paintings Large and Small

Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland, Paintings

Campbell Grant Gallery, Christchurch, New Works

Sarjeant Gallery, Wanganui, The Objects, the Game and the Life: a Survey Show, 1972-97

Bowen Galleries, Wellington. The Doctor’s Dog, Visitors, Dead Cowboys and other Paintings

Bowen Galleries, Wellington, Small Paintings

Hawkes Bay Exhibition Centre, Shaped Paintings

Bowen Galleries, Wellington, Paintings

New Work Studio, Wellington, New Works

1993

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1981

1980

1979

Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland, Minimalist Paintings 1981-1982

New Work Studio, Wellington Small Shaped Paintings

Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland Large Drawings

Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland Shaped Paintings

CSA Gallery, Christchurch, High School Exercise Drawings

Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland Domestic Flavours Paintings, Two Large Floor Works and High School Exercise

Drawings

Gregory Flint Gallery, Wellington, New and Old Paintings

Louise Beale Gallery, Wellington, Domestic Flavours Paintings

Louise Beale Gallery, Wellington, Small Paintings 1972-82

Artis Gallery, Auckland. Buchanan Paintings

Artis Gallery, Auckland. Paintings and Drawings (Shaped Minimalist Paintings. Lanark Drawings)

Louise Beale Gallery, Wellington Lanark Drawing.

Red Metro Gallery, Auckland Lanark Drawings

Dowse Art Museum, Lower Hutt Paintings and Drawings (Shaped Minimalist Paintings, Lanark Drawings)

Louise Beale Gallery, Wellington, Stiff Jumble Paintings

Louise Beale Gallery, Wellington, Lanark Drawings

City Art Gallery, Wellington, Paintings and Drawing, 1972-81

Petar James Gallery, Auckland, Minimalist Paintings

Petar James Gallery, Auckland, Splatter Paintings

Elva Bett Gallery, Wellington, Splatter Paintings

1979

1978

1977

1974

2011

2005

2004

2000

1997

1995

1994

1990

1987

Petar James Gallery, Auckland, Splatter Paintings

Elva Bett Gallery, Wellington, Splatter Paintings

Govett Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, Paintings 1974-77

Peter Webb Galleries, Auckland, Grids

Elva Bett Gallery, Wellington, Grids and Tartans

Antipodes Gallery, Wellington, Paintings

Smallworks Gallery, Brisbane, Looksee

Wallace Art Award, Touring Exhibition

Wallace Art Award, Touring Exhibition

Pataka Museum of Art and Cultures (touring), Representation and Reality

Pataka Museum of Art and Cultures, Think Colour

Te Papa, Collectors Choice

Page 90, Porirua, Common Ground: 10 Male Artists

Manawatu Art Gallery, Palmerston North, More than a Floor

Wellington City Art Gallery, Local Colour

Wellington City Arts Festival, Strange New Land

CSA Gallery, Christchurch, Hogging the Floor

Wellington City Art Gallery, Off the Wall

Selected Group Shows

2006 Mataura Licensing Trust 50th Anniversary Inaugural Artist In Residence

Te Papa, Wellington

Pataka Museum of Art and Cultures, Porirua.

The Auckland City Art Gallery, Auckland

The Robert McDougall Gallery, Christchurch

The Sarjeant Gallery, Wanganui

Manawatu Art Gallery, Palmerston North.

Dowse Art Gallery, Lower Hutt.

The Bath House, Rotorua.

Victoria University, Wellington.

Wellington College of Education, Wellington.

1987

1986

1985

1978

1976

1975

1973

Wellington City Art Gallery, Drawing Analogies

National Art Gallery, Shed 11, Wellington, Content/Context

Stephen Mori Gallery, Sydney, Perspecta

Dowse Art Gallery, Lower Hutt, Three Painters

Auckland City Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand Drawing

Manawatu Art Gallery, Palmerston North, Four Wellington Artists

Barrington Gallery, Auckland Figurative Art Now

New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington, Eight Young Artists

Artist Residencies

Collections

••••••••••

2005

2004

1998

1981

1978

1977

Runner up Prize, Wallace Art Awards

Jury Prize, Wallace Art Awards

Lillian Ida-Smith Award for Painting

QEII Arts Council Grant

Rotorua Art Award

QEII Arts Council Grant

Christchurch College of Education, Christchurch.

Christchurch Institute of Technology, Christchurch.

James Wallace Collection, Auckland.

The Real Art Roadshow.

Awards

••••

Selected Bibliography

Dan Chappell, Figuring it all out, pp.72-75 (illus) Art News NZ, Summer 2011

Process. Robert McLeod, Artist Profile, Australia Issue 17 2011. pp 122-123. (illus)

Dandini Comes Clean. Ed. Aaron Lister (2011) published Paulnache

Aaron Lister (2004) Robert McLeod, Travelling With The Happy Worm. Art New Zealand No 109, pp.66-69

Preview. Process. Robert McLeod. Artist Profile. Issue 17, 2011, p122-123.

Dan Chappell. Organised chaos in the exuberant paintings of Rob McLeod. Art News New Zealand. Summer 2011

Dandini Comes Clean.Paintings by Robert McLeod (2011). Edited, Aaron Lister PAULNACHE publishing

An Orange In A Fried Fish Shop: Paintings by Robert McLeod (2003) Essay, Aaron Lister: published Craig Potton Ltd.

Katy Corner Postcards p 26 (illus) Art News New Zealand, Spring 2002

A Long Way Home: Rob McLeod. (2002). Catalogue essay, H. Kedgley; published by Pataka Museum of Art and Cultures

Think Colour. (2000). Catalogue essay, J. Mane-Wheoki; published by Pataka Museum of Art and Cultures

Allan Smith. (1998) Robert McLeod and the Giggler in the Wood (illus). Art New Zealand, No 85, pp.37-41

The Objects, the Game and the Life: A Survey Show (1997). Catalogue essay, M. Scaife; published by Sarjeant Gallery

Local Colour (1995) Catalogue essay, A. Smith; published by Wellington City Art Gallery

Warwick Brown (1995) One Hundred New Zealand Paintings, Auckland: Godwit.

Allan Smith (1990) Ways to do More and More (illus). Art New Zealand, No 56, pp.70- 74

Susan Foster (1988) Robert McLeod: An Interview (illus). Art New Zealand, No 46, pp.64-67

Soft Paradigms (1987) Catalogue essay, I. Wedde; published by Wellington City Art Gallery.

The Grid: Lattice and Network (1987) Catalogue essay, A. Bogle; published by Auckland City Art Gallery.

Content/Context: A Survey of Recent New Zealand Art (1986) Catalogue essay, L. Bieringa: published by National Art

Gallery

Elva Bett (1986) New Zealand Art: A Modern Perspective. Auckland: Reed and Methuen

Six New Zealand Artists: Perspecta 85 (1985) Catalogue essay, C. Sotheran: published by Mori Gallery, Sydney

Susan Foster (1985) Wellington Review (illus) Art New Zealand, No 36, p.22

Jim and Mary Barr (1980) Contemporary New Zealand Painters, Martinborough: Alister Taylor

Peter Cape (1979) New Painting since 1960 Auckland: Collins

Neil Rowe (1978) Wellington Review (illus) Art New Zealand, No 11, pp.19, 61

44 Roslyn Gardens, Elizabeth Bay, NSW 2011.

+61 2 8353 3500 / +61 2 439 776 655

ABOUT ROBERT MCLEOD