Jeffree Skewes
Jeffree Skewes
Artist Jeffree Skewes pictured in his studio. Photo supplied by artist.
Jeffree Skewes has been making art and contributing to his local art scene since the early 1980s. He is a painter, artist, art educator, mentor and writer.
Skewes originally studied ceramics (1981-2), at the University of Southern Toowomba, Queensland, and then at the Canberra School of Art (1983). He then worked as a studio assistant (1984), at the ANU Glass Workshop under the celebrated artists Klaus Moje and Neil Roberts. Throughout the 1980 and 90s, Skewes exhibited art, mixed and worked with many artists and artistic groups across several hybrid art projects: theatre, public & community arts, music, art & social activism, experimental art and art education.
In 1993 he completed a degree in Visual Art with a major in painting from Newcastle University. In 1995 he founded, established and still runs and teaches from studioMAP – a unique painting, drawing and illustration art school for children and teens. studioMAP is now situated within M16 Artspace, Griffith ACT. Skewes also maintains his own private art practice and studio in Kambah, ACT.
Skewes is participating in Bryter, the inaugural group exhibition at Tyger Gallery. His artworks included are a sample of his themes and visual art concerns.
Skewes is currently working on an exciting body of work, soon to be available in a beautiful new book and proposed exhibition that celebrates the Sydney Opera House – called A Sydney Opera – a pictorial narrative dedicated to his dream of a new and inspirational modern opera.
Here, the Sydney Opera House itself, is cast as the special 'lead character', eminating from Skewes' dream of a new opera. The opera is 'staged' right on Sydney Harbour and told with and by various original paintings, installation art, essays, stories, librettos and poetry. The intended glossy large-format book is now in its final draft stage, awaiting a brave and creative publisher.
Skewes has self-published (2018), a fifty page book titled Silk on the Road, following his large solo exhibition at M16 Artspace Gallery with the same namesake comprising a collection of paintings and poetry that pays homage to personal journeys of self discovery and the legendary Silk Road. This small, hardcover book celebrates the notion of life seen/lived as a contemporary, metaphorical, allegorical, metaphysical and perhaps unending journey across time, land and adventures.
Skewes has now begun work, on another visual narrative book to be simply titled 1909, set in Montmartre, at the beginning of the twentieth century, at the dawn of modern art and modern society. It's central ploy, centres around an infamous artist's dinner party held at the Bateau-Lavoir in late 1908. The illustrious list of attendees, wild goings on and several claims as to who organised it – prompted the comment; it was “one of the most notable social events of the twentieth century". 1909 will be full of art, revolution, originality, a little pathos and lots of joy...