Guy Maestri

Born in Mudgee, a country town of New South Wales, Guido Maestri (b. 1974, Australia) is known for his highly textural, expressive works that explore the painted materiality, gesture and observation. Although he is noted for his en plein air paintings and strong connection to the Australian landscape, Maestri also employs still-life and portraiture to investigate the conventions of painting. Maestri’s love affair with the Australian landscape has taken him across the mainland in search of new vistas to paint, covering areas including the Tanami Desert, Northern Territory; Western Volcanic Plains, Victoria; Mutawintji National Park, New South Wales; Hill End, a former gold mining town in New South Wales. Recently, he has produced series’ of vibrantly coloured cast bronze bust sculptures that are deceptively rendered to look like plasticine.

In 2009, Maestri won the prestigious Archibald Prize, Australia’s major portraiture award. He has also been awarded the 2014 Kings School Art Prize (Australia) and the 2013 Premier’s Plein Air Painting Prize (Australia). He is a regular finalist in the Wynne Prize for Landscape at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia). His works are collected widely, including institutions such as National Portrait Gallery (Australia), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia), Art Gallery of South Australia, and Fubon Art Foundation (Taiwan).

Artist bio courtesy Yavuz Gallery