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Unnatural Selection: Sam Leach

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

22 November - 8 December, 2007

Melbourne-based artist Sam Leach presents a selection of new works depicting albino animals. As with Leach's previous works, these are influenced by the Dutch Renaissance style of painting. Within the dark resin background Leach places a meticulously executed still life or a portrait - his painting A Bird Flies Past Jeff Kennett was a finalist for the 2007 Archibald Prize.

His latest works use this style of still life painting to explore the nature and symbolism of albino creatures. These animals are born vulnerable to the sun and to predators, rarely surviving without human intervention. In different cultures and contexts they can symbolise good or evil, life or death, and have been connected to voodoo and the spirit world. The dark background of the paintings highlights the whiteness of the animals, emphasising the play between light and dark in these works.

Sam Leach was born in Adelaide but completed his Bachelor and Masters of Fine Arts at RMIT in Melbourne. With his unique style of painting he quickly set himself apart from other contemporary Australian artists; he was shortlisted for the Siemens Art Prize while still in his honours year. He went on to win the judges prize for the Metro5 Art Award in 2006, and in 2007 was named as one of Australia's 50 most collectable artists by Australian Art Collector magazine.

Kashmir Brummel