Upstream

On the top floor of our gallery, we proudly present Upstream, the debut solo exhibition of Baden Croft with Michael Reid Southern Highlands. This collection of sun-parched landscapes—and a single floral study—reveals the artist’s joyful communion with the Australian bush. With thickly loaded brushstrokes, one can imagine Croft stretching across his large canvases, tracing the meandering river bends and the gnarled trunks that border its banks.

If Upstream is rooted in a deep attachment to Australia’s landscapes, it also bears the imprint of Brett Whiteley, one of its most evocative interpreters. Whiteley’s pliable forms and dedication to aesthetics over topographical fidelity clearly resonate with Croft. His canvases embody a similar spontaneity and fluidity, layering bold graphic elements over neutral grounds, reminiscent of Whiteley’s brush-and-ink calligraphy period.

Beyond these references, Croft’s true preoccupation is the pursuit of capturing nature’s abundant beauty and the sensory immersion of being in the wild. Through dynamic forms, movement, and rapid brushwork, he pushes his subjects to the edges of the canvas, distorting them with stretched lines and tilted perspectives.

Situated on the Mornington Peninsula, Croft’s daily routine is dictated by the ebb and flow of the ocean and his studio practice. Mornings spent surfing yield inspiration from the sea’s vastness—a space where ideas gather like waves. Afternoons are devoted to Onshore Studios, a creative enclave where the rhythm of fellow artists mirrors the landscapes Croft captures. Within this community, Croft translates the ever-changing Australian bush and coastline into thick, tactile gestures.