Artist Talk: Fresh Hell

Artist Talk
3 September 2022
Ryan Presley sits in front of his sketches. He smiles off-camera.
Ryan Presley sits in front of his sketches. He smiles off-camera.

Hear from Brisbane-based artist Ryan Presley in conversation with ACE Artistic Director Patrice Sharkey about his major solo exhibition, Fresh Hell.

When

Adelaide Contemporary Experimental

3 September 2022

1:00pm to 2:00pm

Access

Presley’s practice wrestles with themes of power and dominion—in particular, how religion and economic control served colonialism and empire building over time, and the representation of its customs and edifices in our everyday lives.

Having found institutional success with his Blood Money watercolour series (which re-imagines Australia's currency as a celebration of Aboriginal history), Fresh Hell represents a new phase of practice and scale for the artist.

Hear Presley speak about the ideas and themes prevalent in this major solo exhibition in this one-off Artist Talk.

We are happy to book an Auslan interpreter if needed – please reach out to grace@ace.gallery if you would like to make a request.

Feature Image: Ryan Presley (2022). Photography by Claire Letitia Reynolds. Courtesy the artist.

Lead Artists

Ryan Presley
Vibrant painting featuring woman with baby looking down on distressed policeman and businessmen.
Vibrant painting featuring woman with baby looking down on distressed policeman and businessmen.
Ryan Presley, 'One day this will all be yours' (2022), oil, synthetic gold and 23k gold leaf on poly-cotton, 182 x 152 cm. Courtesy the artist and Milani Gallery, Brisbane.
Vibrant painting featuring woman riding a horse over a four-headed dragon.
Vibrant painting featuring woman riding a horse over a four-headed dragon.
Ryan Presley, 'Crown Land (till the ends of the earth)' (2020), oil, synthetic gold and 23k gold leaf on polyester 182 x 152 cm. Collection of the National Gallery of Victoria. Courtesy the artist and Milani Gallery, Brisbane.
Vibrant painting featuring men shooting a helicopter, while another man paints a boomerang.
Vibrant painting featuring men shooting a helicopter, while another man paints a boomerang.
Ryan Presley, 'Aeronautics (what goes up must come down)' (2020), oil, synthetic gold and 23k gold leaf on poly-cotton, 182 x 152 cm. Collection of Artbank, Sydney/Melbourne. Courtesy the artist and Milani Gallery, Brisbane.
Related Exhibition
Ryan Presley: Fresh Hell

3 September to 29 October 2022

Ryan Presley 

See Exhibition

Fresh Hell is a co-commission by Adelaide Contemporary Experimental and Gertrude, Melbourne.

This project is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. 

ACE tampinthi, ngadlu Kaurna yartangka panpapanpalyarninthi (inparrinthi). Kaurna miyurna yaitya mathanya Wama Tarntanyaku. Parnaku yailtya, parnaku tapa purruna, parnaku yarta ngadlu tampnthi. Yalaka Kaurna miyurna itu yailtya, tapa purruna, yarta kuma puru martinthi, puru warri-apinthi, puru tangka martulayinthi.

ACE respectfully acknowledges the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pays respect to Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.

ACE tampinthi, ngadlu Kaurna yartangka panpapanpalyarninthi (inparrinthi). Kaurna miyurna yaitya mathanya Wama Tarntanyaku. Parnaku yailtya, parnaku tapa purruna, parnaku yarta ngadlu tampnthi. Yalaka Kaurna miyurna itu yailtya, tapa purruna, yarta kuma puru martinthi, puru warri-apinthi, puru tangka martulayinthi.

ACE respectfully acknowledges the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pays respect to Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.