Brendon Darby

“My main motivation to paint is a very basic human trait that we all possess: the need to share experiences that stimulate us.”
- Brendon Darby

Brendon Darby is a painter and musician whose work lies at the intersection of visual art and sound. His practice is grounded in a lifelong fascination with landscape and expression. Born in Perth, he has spent over four decades exhibiting across Australia and internationally, holding more than fifty solo exhibitions in cities including London, Rome, Hong Kong, New York, Houston and Aspen. Having trained as both an artist and a professional musician, Darby brings a distinctive sensory depth to his work, often exploring the relationship between sound, light, and place.

His landmark multimedia project, Listening to Paintings – Australia, premiered at the American Museum of Natural History in New York in 2007 as part of G'Day USA. It combines live music, film, and large-scale paintings of the Australian landscape. “One of the perks of my job is that I get to visit wonderful locations,” Darby reflects. "From majestic gorges to vast deserts... I hope you enjoy the results as much as I enjoyed painting them.' The project went on to tour Houston, raising over one million dollars for environmental causes.

Darby’s work encompasses both representation and abstraction, often blending the two through unconventional techniques. One series emerged from his fascination with the distorted city lights seen through rain on a car windscreen. This led him to construct a mobile rain machine and chase tropical downpours in Singapore. A finalist in prestigious awards such as the Archibald Prize and the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, Darby’s work continues to evolve, driven by unfiltered curiosity and a passion for unconstrained creativity. A vocal advocate for creative freedom in education, he believes that children’s natural expression should be encouraged rather than corrected.

About the Artist

- Born 1952 in Sydney NSW, lives and works in Perth
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024
- Urban Wilderness, Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth WA
2023
- The South Coast Trio, Harvey Galleries, Sydney NSW
2022
- A Kimberley Journey, Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth WA
2020
- Aviary – Take Your Time, Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth WA
2019
- Water Works, Harvey Galleries, Seaforth, Sydney NSW
2018
- Coastlines and Train Lines, Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth WA
2017
- Wet Windows, Grantfield Gallery, Tuscany, Italy
- Veils of Rome, Harvey Galleries, Sydney
- Duet, Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth WA
2015
- Hawkesbury Winter, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney
- Sunshower, Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth WA
2014
- Karijini, Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth WA
2013
- Wet Paint, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney
- River, Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth WA
2012
- City H₂O12, Linton and Kay Fine Art Gallery, Subiaco WA
2011
- Brooklyn to Brooklyn, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery, Sydney
2010
- Window to New York, Linton and Kay Fine Art, Subiaco WA
2009
- BD 09, Linton and Kay Fine Art, Subiaco WA
2008
- Two Journeys, Linton & Kay Fine Art Gallery, Subiaco WA
2007
- Listening to Paintings – Australia, Museum of Natural History, New York, USA
- Listening to Paintings – Australia, Heritage Hall, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Houston, USA
- Listening to the Land, Booker Lowe Gallery, Houston, USA
2005
- The Hawkesbury, Michael Commerford Gallery, NSW
2004
- 2 Rivers, Stafford Studios, Perth WA
2003
- This Summer, Stafford Studios, Perth WA
- Mitchell Falls, Michael Commerford Gallery, NSW
2002
- Ilma 2, Michael Commerford Gallery, Sydney
2001
- Ilma, Stafford Studios, Perth WA
2000
- Margaret River Art Galleries, WA
- A Progress Report, Stafford Studios, Perth WA
- Jewels of the Landscape, Michael Commerford Gallery, Sydney
1999
- Framed - The Darwin Gallery, Darwin NT
- Michael Commerford Gallery, Sydney
1998
- Barry Newton Gallery, Adelaide SA
1997
- Michael Commerford Gallery, Sydney
1996
- Barry Newton Gallery, Adelaide SA (with Garry Duncan)
- Editions Gallery, Melbourne VIC
- From The Nannup Studio, Stafford Studios, Perth WA
1995
- Stafford Studios, Perth WA
- Framed, The Darwin Gallery, Darwin NT
1993
- Consuming Paintings, Stafford Studios, Perth WA
1992
- Bloody Tourists, Perth Galleries, Perth WA
1991
- Framed, The Showcase Gallery, Darwin NT
- Park Road Gallery, Brisbane QLD
1990
- Listening to Paintings – Kakadu, Gallery Australia, Perth WA
- Park Road Gallery, Brisbane QLD
1989
- Framed, The Showcase Gallery, Darwin NT
- Gallery Australia, Perth WA
1988
- Framed, The Showcase Gallery, Darwin NT
- Gallery Australia, Perth WA
1987
- Galleria Studio del Canova, Rome, Italy
- Gallery Australia, Perth WA
1986
- Ric’s Gallery, Perth WA
1985
- Alexander Galleries, Perth WA
1984
- Alexander Galleries, Perth WA
1981
- Congress Hall, Tyrol, Austria
1980
- Signature Galleries, Perth WA
1979
- Way ’79 Celebration Invitation, Allendale Square, Perth WA
1978
- Rigby Gallery, Perth WA
Awards
2021
- West Society of the Arts, 125th Anniversary Exhibition, Best in Show Award
- Plein Air Down Under – Winner, Professional Category, presented by the City of Mandurah
2020
- Plein Air Down Under – Winner, Professional Category, presented by the City of Mandurah
2016
- Perth Portrait Prize – Finalist, Art Gallery of WA
2015
- Deloitte Spring Rose Art Exhibition – Featured Artist (Capel Vale Wines Award)
2004
- Cossack Art Award – Winner, Invited Artists
2001
- Archibald Portrait Prize – Finalist, Art Gallery of NSW
1998
- Royal Agricultural Society – Winner, Open Art Award
1988
- Alice Bale Art Award Exhibition, McClelland Gallery, VIC
Collections
- J.P. Morgan Bank
- Challenge Bank
- Media Portfolio Limited
- Town and Country Building Society
- IBM Australia Ltd
- Woodside Offshore Petroleum Pty Ltd
- Richard Ellis International Property Consultants
- Allied Corporation Pty Ltd
- City of Stirling Collection
- Bunbury Regional Art Gallery
- Tony Barlow Collection
- Rodilli Collection, Rome
- Coldhurst Collection, Great Britain
- Daleski Collection, USA
- Dr Richard Blum Collection, Switzerland
- Burlington Paintings, London
- Chevron Asiatic Ltd
- Leeuwin Estate
- Duxton Hotel, Perth
- Amcor Ltd
- St John of God Hospital
- Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd
- Alinta Gas
- Guildford Grammar
- Scotch College
- Edwards Thompson Solicitors
- Evans & Tate
- Holmes à Court Collection
- ECU Collection
- Many private collections throughout Australia and overseas