Renowned Australian landscape artist John Wolseley has drawn inspiration from an Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) project in Central Australia for his latest exhibition of work, which is on show as part of the Melbourne Art Fair this week. Over the past three years, John has spent time at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary, on Ngalia Warlpiri and Luritja Country west of Alice Springs, getting up close with the rebounding populations of native mammals and creating a series of prints and paintings.
Wolseley is known for his body of work which spans over four decades and explores the connections and ecological interactions of the natural world. His approach involves lots of time on the ground - often literally - dragging huge sheets of paper across vegetation and tracing patterns and impressions from the textures of the land. Wolseley's works are richly informed by both ecological science and First Nations relationships with Country. While at Newhaven he spent time with AWC ecologists investigating the warrens of Great Desert Skinks and Burrowing Bettongs, and accompanied Warlpiri rangers searching for witchetty grubs. This collection of work is titled NGURRA – Dwelling of desert animals – mounds, burrows, warrens, lairs and nests.
John Wolseley is represented by Australian Galleries. His works can be viewed at the Melbourne Art Fair which runs from Thursday 20th - Sunday 23rd February 2025 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in South Wharf.
