Michael Gawler is a Melbourne-based artist whose practice encompasses painting, drawing, and sculpture. His fascination with movement and stillness in the human form is evident in his figurative work crafted in bronze and terra cotta. Michael’s deliberate, unfinished ambiguity in his modelling invites diverse interpretations, allowing viewers to connect with the nuances and subtleties of physical expression and character.
In 2023 Michael was a finalist in the Naked and Nude Major Acquisitive Art Prize for his large bronze work Emily and in 2019 Michael’s concept for an 8 episode series The River was acquired by Sydney based production company Beyond Television. You can see Emily here, and read about it here.
Michael’s creative practice commenced in 2008 after a long career in the legal field. Largely self-taught, Michael relocated to Paris in 2012 where he was able to refine his skills by attending extended masterclasses through Italy and France, including at the Florence Academy of Art, and undergoing concentrated study with international masters Jean-Charles Mainardis and Maude de Jeu.
Michael has had successful solo exhibitions in both Melbourne and Paris, with his most recent exhibition being opened by The Cultural Attaché and Deputy Lord Mayor of Le Vesinet. Michael's work is recognized for its contemporary approach to classical styles and has been sought out for private collections worldwide. Since his return to Australia in 2019, Michael has been focused on ambitiously working with larger-scale bronze forms. This evolution enables a dialogue between the sculptural works and their location, allowing viewers to consider each site as it entangles human form and gesture.
You can contact Michael at mgawler@gawlerbl.com.au
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