The fifth edition of our annual exhibition in collaboration with Country Style magazine is now open, showcasing new artwork by six leading artists across three Michael Reid spaces.

Titled Our Country, this expansive group show takes viewers beyond the city limits into varied and vividly conjured terrain as artists reflect on their personal ties to the land and the shared experiences it shelters.

At Michael Reid Murrurundi, Our Country occupies the entire gallery space, comprising a collection of Fiona Smith’s exuberant portraits of native birdlife set against graphic, whimsical patterns. These play out alongside sumptuous, large-scale paintings by Baden Croft, whose rhythmic gestures evoke the tangle of floral and arboreal forms found along the Mornington Peninsula.

At Michael Reid Southern Highlands, Jo White and Vicki Yatjiki Cullinan each present new works across the gallery’s top-level and mezzanine spaces, with White delivering brilliant birds-eye impressions of typically Australian suburban and semi-rural streetscapes, and Cullinan exhibiting her sublime, sweeping visions of Indulkana Country.

For the first time, Michael Reid Northern Beaches is among the settings for our Country Style exhibition. Celebrated for her epic, sunburnt topographies, WA artist Carly Le Cerf will is joined by Elizabeth Beaumont, whose earthy, abstract markings effect expressive, emotionally charged portrayals of her NSW Southern Tablelands home.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to our 2024 Country Style show. To enquire about available works of art, please contact danielsoma@michaelreid.com.au

The fifth edition of our annual exhibition in collaboration with Country Style magazine launches next month, presenting new work by six leading artists across three Michael Reid spaces in a roving celebration of Australia’s diverse and dazzling landscapes.

Titled Our Country, this expansive group show takes viewers beyond the city limits into varied and vividly conjured terrain as artists reflect on their personal ties to the land and the shared experiences it shelters.

At Michael Reid Murrurundi, Our Country will occupy the entire gallery space, comprising a collection of Fiona Smith’s exuberant portraits of native birdlife set against graphic, whimsical patterns. These will play out alongside sumptuous, large-scale paintings by Baden Croft, whose rhythmic gestures evoke the tangle of floral and arboreal forms found along the Mornington Peninsula.

At Michael Reid Southern Highlands, Jo White and Vicki Yatjiki Cullinan will each present new works across the gallery’s top-level and mezzanine spaces, with White delivering brilliant birds-eye impressions of typically Australian suburban and semi-rural streetscapes, and Cullinan exhibiting her sublime, sweeping visions of Indulkana Country.

For the first time, Michael Reid Northern Beaches is among the settings for our Country Style exhibition. Celebrated for her epic, sunburnt topographies, WA artist Carly Le Cerf will be joined by Elizabeth Beaumont, whose earthy, abstract markings effect expressive, emotionally charged portrayals of her NSW Southern Tablelands home.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to our 2024 Country Style show. To register interest and request a preview, please contact danielsoma@michaelreid.com.au

Ray Monde’s figures wade through river water, toss themselves gailey from rope swings and recline on surfboards that float gently downstream. Around them is a layered world – cut from newspapers and magazines and treated to washes of paint. Close inspection reveals tree trunks comprised of printed paragraphs and faint pictures that dapple the water.

Aside from celebrating one of life’s great pleasures (immersing oneself in cool water on a very hot day), Monde’s collage scenes also operate on a deeply personal level; as rich examinations of queerness within the framework of regional Australia.

This mezzanine release follows the success of his first major solo exhibition in a public gallery at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery as well as exhibiting with the Blake Prize, the National Works on Paper Prize and Paddington Art Prize. A beloved fixture of the regional Australian art scene, Ray has built a significant following and demand for new pieces is strong. To register your interest in this collection, press the tile below:

The fifth edition of our annual exhibition in collaboration with Country Style magazine is now open, showcasing new artwork by six leading artists across three Michael Reid spaces.

Titled Our Country, this expansive group show takes viewers beyond the city limits into varied and vividly conjured terrain as artists reflect on their personal ties to the land and the shared experiences it shelters.

At Michael Reid Murrurundi, Our Country occupies the entire gallery space, comprising a collection of Fiona Smith’s exuberant portraits of native birdlife set against graphic, whimsical patterns. These play out alongside sumptuous, large-scale paintings by Baden Croft, whose rhythmic gestures evoke the tangle of floral and arboreal forms found along the Mornington Peninsula.

At Michael Reid Southern Highlands, Jo White and Vicki Yatjiki Cullinan each present new works across the gallery’s top-level and mezzanine spaces, with White delivering brilliant birds-eye impressions of typically Australian suburban and semi-rural streetscapes, and Cullinan exhibiting her sublime, sweeping visions of Indulkana Country.

For the first time, Michael Reid Northern Beaches is among the settings for our Country Style exhibition. Celebrated for her epic, sunburnt topographies, WA artist Carly Le Cerf will is joined by Elizabeth Beaumont, whose earthy, abstract markings effect expressive, emotionally charged portrayals of her NSW Southern Tablelands home.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to our 2024 Country Style show. To enquire about available works of art, please contact danielsoma@michaelreid.com.au

The fifth edition of our annual exhibition in collaboration with Country Style magazine is now open, showcasing new artwork by six leading artists across three Michael Reid spaces.

Titled Our Country, this expansive group show takes viewers beyond the city limits into varied and vividly conjured terrain as artists reflect on their personal ties to the land and the shared experiences it shelters.

At Michael Reid Murrurundi, Our Country occupies the entire gallery space, comprising a collection of Fiona Smith’s exuberant portraits of native birdlife set against graphic, whimsical patterns. These play out alongside sumptuous, large-scale paintings by Baden Croft, whose rhythmic gestures evoke the tangle of floral and arboreal forms found along the Mornington Peninsula.

At Michael Reid Southern Highlands, Jo White and Vicki Yatjiki Cullinan each present new works across the gallery’s top-level and mezzanine spaces, with White delivering brilliant birds-eye impressions of typically Australian suburban and semi-rural streetscapes, and Cullinan exhibiting her sublime, sweeping visions of Indulkana Country.

For the first time, Michael Reid Northern Beaches is among the settings for our Country Style exhibition. Celebrated for her epic, sunburnt topographies, WA artist Carly Le Cerf will is joined by Elizabeth Beaumont, whose earthy, abstract markings effect expressive, emotionally charged portrayals of her NSW Southern Tablelands home.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to our 2024 Country Style show. To enquire about available works of art, please contact danielsoma@michaelreid.com.au

The fifth edition of our annual exhibition in collaboration with Country Style magazine is now open, showcasing new artwork by six leading artists across three Michael Reid spaces.

Titled Our Country, this expansive group show takes viewers beyond the city limits into varied and vividly conjured terrain as artists reflect on their personal ties to the land and the shared experiences it shelters.

At Michael Reid Murrurundi, Our Country occupies the entire gallery space, comprising a collection of Fiona Smith’s exuberant portraits of native birdlife set against graphic, whimsical patterns. These play out alongside sumptuous, large-scale paintings by Baden Croft, whose rhythmic gestures evoke the tangle of floral and arboreal forms found along the Mornington Peninsula.

At Michael Reid Southern Highlands, Jo White and Vicki Yatjiki Cullinan each present new works across the gallery’s top-level and mezzanine spaces, with White delivering brilliant birds-eye impressions of typically Australian suburban and semi-rural streetscapes, and Cullinan exhibiting her sublime, sweeping visions of Indulkana Country.

For the first time, Michael Reid Northern Beaches is among the settings for our Country Style exhibition. Celebrated for her epic, sunburnt topographies, WA artist Carly Le Cerf will is joined by Elizabeth Beaumont, whose earthy, abstract markings effect expressive, emotionally charged portrayals of her NSW Southern Tablelands home.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to our 2024 Country Style show. To enquire about available works of art, please contact danielsoma@michaelreid.com.au

The fifth edition of our annual exhibition in collaboration with Country Style magazine is now open, showcasing new artwork by six leading artists across three Michael Reid spaces.

Titled Our Country, this expansive group show takes viewers beyond the city limits into varied and vividly conjured terrain as artists reflect on their personal ties to the land and the shared experiences it shelters.

At Michael Reid Murrurundi, Our Country occupies the entire gallery space, comprising a collection of Fiona Smith’s exuberant portraits of native birdlife set against graphic, whimsical patterns. These play out alongside sumptuous, large-scale paintings by Baden Croft, whose rhythmic gestures evoke the tangle of floral and arboreal forms found along the Mornington Peninsula.

At Michael Reid Southern Highlands, Jo White and Vicki Yatjiki Cullinan each present new works across the gallery’s top-level and mezzanine spaces, with White delivering brilliant birds-eye impressions of typically Australian suburban and semi-rural streetscapes, and Cullinan exhibiting her sublime, sweeping visions of Indulkana Country.

For the first time, Michael Reid Northern Beaches is among the settings for our Country Style exhibition. Celebrated for her epic, sunburnt topographies, WA artist Carly Le Cerf will is joined by Elizabeth Beaumont, whose earthy, abstract markings effect expressive, emotionally charged portrayals of her NSW Southern Tablelands home.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to our 2024 Country Style show. To enquire about available works of art, please contact danielsoma@michaelreid.com.au

The fifth edition of our annual exhibition in collaboration with Country Style magazine presents new work by six leading artists across three Michael Reid spaces in a roving celebration of Australia’s diverse and dazzling landscapes.

Titled Our Country, this expansive group show takes viewers beyond the city limits into varied and vividly conjured terrain as artists reflect on their personal ties to the land and the shared experiences it shelters.

At Michael Reid Murrurundi, Our Country will occupy the entire gallery space, comprising a collection of Fiona Smith’s exuberant portraits of native birdlife set against graphic, whimsical patterns. These will play out alongside sumptuous, large-scale paintings by Baden Croft, whose rhythmic gestures evoke the tangle of floral and arboreal forms found along the Mornington Peninsula.

At Michael Reid Southern Highlands, Jo White and Vicki Yatjiki Cullinan will each present a suite of new works across the gallery’s top-level and mezzanine spaces, with White delivering brilliant birds-eye impressions of typically Australian suburban and semi-rural streetscapes, and Cullinan exhibiting her sublime, sweeping visions of Indulkana Country.

For the first time, Michael Reid Northern Beaches is among the settings for our Country Style exhibition. Celebrated for her epic, sunburnt topographies, WA artist Carly Le Cerf will be joined by Elizabeth Beaumont, whose earthy, abstract markings effect expressive, emotionally charged portrayals of her NSW Southern Tablelands home.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to our 2024 Country Style show. To register interest and request a preview, please contact danielsoma@michaelreid.com.au

Julz Beresford is an expressive artist who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from UNSW Art & Design (COFA). She has been recognised as a finalist in several art competitions including the Hornsby Art Prize 2019, the Northern Beaches Art Show 2019, and the Mosman 2088 in 2019 and 2020.

An essential part of Beresford’s practice is being in the landscape, to be still and present observing nuances which inform the way she focuses her attention. It is here that Beresford collects her Gouache studies and drawings which later become a critical part of her studio-based work. These plein air studies refocus her mind back to what had captured her attention.

Often Beresford responds to the colour of her subjects and searches for locations where she finds a connection. One which pushes her studio-based practice to rethink the physical application of this expression. She is interested in questioning the physical process of mark-making in such a way that translates the observed ‘real’ into an expressive piece of art. She asks herself, ‘how does the process of mark-making translate the essence of the place I’m trying to recreate?’

Beresford’s intent is for the audience to feel engaged with the energy of the landscape. Her works are both an expressive piece of the whole process, and an embodiment of how it actually feels to be there. Her paintings have a sense of intense energy. She paints alla prima with a vigorous and spirited application, challenging herself to remain in the moment and ‘solve’ the painting as a whole.

Beresford likes to work on multiple locations at once, keeping herself alert. She finds the expression of one landscape can, and will, inform the other. The purpose being to constantly question the physical application, and where it takes her work.

One of the great privileges of working in our field (among many) is witnessing how the artworks we exhibit go on to enliven and enrich the private lives of collectors. There is a great deal of pride and connoisseurship in deciding what works they choose to adorn their interiors, and it never fails to fascinate us. A smartphone shot of someone’s living room is more than enough to illustrate their inner curator.

For this first edition of A Collector’s View, we were warmly invited into the beautiful home of a local, someone who has created a salon-like refuge in their Fitzroy Falls home. Every wall, bookshelf, and piece of furniture reflects their eclectic passions and influences. Carried along with me were a selection of available works from the Michael Reid Southern Highlands stockroom, which can be found dotted throughout these images.