Steve Lopes is not looking to make a pretty picture. For a work to be enduring he believes 'there has to be a level of poison in it', some gritty quality that keeps you coming back.
His powerful painting which won the Gallipoli Art Prize this year contains that little bit of poison. It lures the viewer with an evocative sunset only to reveal the reminders of battle trenches and detritus scattered across the landscape.

Lopes has been painting figurative work for over twenty years starting at a time when it was decidedly unfashionable. He has been acknowledged by art critic John McDonald as 'one of the most dedicated artists you'll find anywhere' and his outstanding works in his distinctive figurative style have captured the attention of art collectors and institutions alike.

He seeks to deal with the figure and the landscape together, depicting the relationship we have with our surrounds and does that in any way he can get the paint onto the surface, always looking for a way to push it further.

He has exhibited in 30 solo shows across Australia and in London and Hong Kong and his work has been hung in many more group shows. His work is held in the National Gallery of Australia, the Parliament House Collection and other public institutions and private collections.

Lopes is also known for his portraiture, recognised as a finalist in the Doug Moran Portrait Prize, Black Swan Prize the Percival Portrait Painting prize and has been selected in the Salon des Refusés exhibition several times.

To hear the podcast interview press 'play' under the feature photo above.

A short video of Lopes in his studio on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel can also be seen below.
Current and upcoming events

Solo show 'Impossible Find' at Stella Downer Fine Art, Sydney, 10 July to 4 August 2018
Salient Contemporary Artists on the Western front, a touring group exhibition showing at New England Regional Art Museum  until 3 June 2018.  Further touring dates TBA on exhibition website.
Group show 'Jamberoo Mountain Road' at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery
Solo show at Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth, date TBA

Show notes

Steve Lopes
Steve Lopes at Stella Downer Fine Art
Steve Lopes at Linton and Kay Galleries
Steve Lopes at Mitchell Fine Art Gallery
Alan Oldfield
Lucian Freud
Piero della Francesca
Henri Matisse
Gallipoli Art Prize
Excerpt from 'Your Friend the Enemy' documentary by Bruce Inglis
Jan Senbergs
Fred Williams
Rover Thomas
Jeffrey Smart
Euan Macleod
Frank Auerbach
Chuck Close
Paul Gauguin
Paul Cezanne
Marlene Dumas
Duck Print Fine Art

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPFwYQtDEt4