Melbourne skateboarding artist presents new exhibition in Docklands

Ground-breaking multidisciplinary artist Brett Ashby, whose portrait work painted from a skateboard has captured international acclaim, will open his new exhibition Bliss in Docklands in November.

Since moving to Escala in NewQuay, Docklands as part of the Renew Shopfront Activation Program, Ashby has held more than 33 performance art events where he has painted subject portraits while riding his skateboard, supported by a live musician.

Operating under Brett Ashby Institute of Fine Art, a live art gallery titled Inner Essence, the trailblazing artist, musician, performer, and author is halfway through a 12-month residency at the site and has since presented a diverse offering of exhibitions and events.

Known for his live event portrait painting on a skateboard of internationally recognised musicians, Ashby will open the doors for the first time revealing some highly collectable pieces of contemporary art. Paintings will vary from London to Tokyo, icons to faces, animals to vehicles, featuring works from the past decade.

For the first time ever, Brett Ashby will be hosting an exhibition of his paintings in Melbourne after living abroad for many years prior to this residency in Docklands.

Ashby began exhibiting his work in the USA in 2009 where his photographic collage artworks resonated with art collectors at Art Basal in Miami, most notably his artwork of the 44th US President, Barack Obama.

A graduate of RMIT and MA Queens College Of Fine Art in London, his commissions include Sculpture by The Sea in Bondi, Art Town, The Olsen Melbourne, Art Series, Cube Art Fair, New York.

With a career spanning 15 years Ashby has forged a name with his unique performative and public art practice and his works are in collections around the world including in Texas, Berlin, Cape Town, London, Tokyo, Paris, and New York. 

In October Peter Hitchener and Kate Laidlaw joined the long list of subjects to be painted by Ashby, which also includes Sam Newman, John Foreman, Zana Pali, Bessie Kay, Scott Major, Steve Alba, and singers Tania Doko, Phil Jamieson, Fred Leone, Dallas Frasca and Lisa Edwards.

Speaking ahead of the opening night of Bliss on November 23, Ashby expressed just how important this exhibition was to him.

“I’ve been told you manifest your thoughts, and, on this occasion, I look forward to this joyous spring period of growth with you all,” Ashby said.

“I have been holding some very revealing paintings in my private collection for some time, during Bliss the exhibit I look forward to them being seen, for the first time.”

“I’m currently painting a piece titled, $200B, 1800x1800mm acrylic on canvas while riding my skateboard. If I’m complete in time for Bliss, it will be front and centre, still on my easel.”

Bliss will officially open at 7pm on November 23 for a VIP and media night. For enquiries email [email protected].

The exhibition will run from November 24 to December 16. The gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 3pm at 377 Docklands Drive. •

Brettashby.com