FEATURED ARTWORK


SIMPLICITY IS DIVINE


2024 SULMAN PRIZE ENTRANT


(CLICK ON PIC TO ENLARGE)

“Gateway to Paradise” (Suburban Bungalow) [2022]

Artist: Neville Williams

Media: Acrylic, spray silver enamel, indelible and non-indelible inks, 

lead pencil, charcoal on canvas (unframed)

Size: 120cm W  x 100cm  H

POA 



The scenario shown in this artwork tells a most wonderful story 

of one man’s simple and happy life of connection, contentment and appreciation. A life that has been well lived.


(DETAIL)


He lived in the Western suburbs of Sydney and I used to say hello to him if the Sun was shining on the way to visit my Mother in her Aged Care Village.


This man and his life gave me inspiration every time I saw him across his neatly manicured lawns. 


His home here is beige in colour and my feeling is that his life has been somewhat repetitious and manually physical. That was no barrier to the colours of his inner life from shining through. 

He is the gatekeeper at the Gateway to Paradise.


Most want to participate in a feeding frenzy of all the distraction 

the world can bring. This is not for the gatekeeper to Paradise. 

He would rather sit on his porch and soak up the Sun.

He doesn’t need to travel to get where he’s going. 

He’s already there.


Complexity confounds itself. 

It is a shadow that robs us of knowing and feeling good about ourselves. 

The gatekeeper has the answers. He sees life with clarity.

Simplicity is hard work. 


More recently there was a “FOR LEASE” sign on the property. 

Change is ever constant. 

- Neville Williams March 2024





2024 Sulman Prize
Art Gallery of NSW
8 June - 8 September, 2024








Primal Scream (THE MIDAS TOUCH) [2024]
(This artwork has been revisioned recently to what you see here.)
Size: 24cm H / Base 50cm W x 27cm L
Media: Fired Clay, porcelain paint, gold leaf and lacquer 
on stained wood base
POA

I heard someone scream the other day.
This was no ordinary scream.

It came from the deeper depths of the person's being.
It cut the air like a knife.
 A cry of despair.

It seemed to go on and on grating raw at the emotions.
It was a desperate scream of unfulfilled self knowing.
The scream of life longing for itself.
Disconnection.

It exampled for me the pain that Our World is going through presently.

This is an earlier sculpture
that in some way approximates what I heard in that person's pain.

I have revisioned the work to include gold leaf.
Maybe the 'gold' in our lives like Midas is making us rich 'materially' 
but the attachment is leaving too many without connection to our own hearts?
Hasn't it all got something to do with our choices and attaining a balance in our lives?

Time to come home. NW☺︎

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)


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 Theseus and the Minotaur(2020) 
"Make the maze of life amazing"
(with a wink to Rosalie Gascoigne and a nod to John Coburn)

Artist: Neville Williams
Size: 59cm (H) x 74cm (W)
Medium: Mixed media on cardboard jigsaw puzzle
PRIVATE COLLECTION


YOO are looking into a mirror.

The Minotaur and Theseus are both in us 
and it's quite a maze inside there!
To find his way out of the maze Theseus carried a string 
to mark the route and so find his way back to his own Eden. 

In this story Theseus comes to understand that facing  
the fears we all hold within us makes a more complete self.  
It's OK to have a shadow. 
The light and the dark are opposite halves of the same whole.

"Know thyself"*
...and you've found the source of your own happiness.
That's a Sun Tree to the left of artwork. 

Put simply this artwork is a contemporary retelling 
of the old adage "HOME SWEET HOME".  NW☺︎
*Socrates

🔴






STOP DREAMING
Wake Up Sleeping Man
Conte crayon on cartridge paper
Size: 42cm H x 59cm W
POA


To see more drawings by this artist click on the sub heading
"SOME LIFE DRAWINGS" above.




 




(EARLIER VERSION OF SCULPTURE SHOWN HERE 
ARTWORK IS NOW REVISIONED)



"Pulcinello"(Punchinello) (2021)
Artist: Neville Williams

MEDIA: Fired Clay, polished brass rod, 
lacquer, gold leaf, indelible ink 
on varnished wooden base.
SIZE: 51cm (H)  Base:18.5cm square
$400


"What can you do,
Punchinello, funny fellow?
What can you do,
Punchinello, funny you? 
We can do that too,
Punchinello, funny fellow,
We can do it, too,
Punchinello, funny you!"

 

Choose not to be a clown. 
Find the harlequin in you and then you'll know YOO. NW☺︎

FINISHED VERSION
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Part of the iconic Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

TAP GALLERY - FIRST PRIZE OUTLOUD ART SHOW




FIND THE LEADER IN YOO




(CLICK ON PIC TO ENLARGE)

Clover's Flowers (St. Mary's Cathedral Sydney) DEC. 2020

Artist: Neville Williams
Acrylic on canvas (framed)
Size: 92cm H x 125cm W x 3.5cm D
PRIVATE COLLECTION

Artist's Note:
While out on my daily walk during the time of Corona 
I happened upon one of the City of Sydney's
flower boxes at St. Mary's Cathedral.

It got me to thinking about all the good work 
the Lord Mayor does for Sydney.
This is only possible because of all those capable staff 
and supporters around her.

Here you are looking at a bunch of those supporters.
I've tried to give the painting some depth to match 
the depth of character required to run a multi-dimensional City. NW☺︎






WHERE ARE WE HEADING?

(CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE)


The Rise or Fall of Western Civilization? 
[Study for "THE AMERICAN DREAM"(after Whiteley)]

Artist: Neville Williams
Size: 122cm (W) x 61cm (H) x 4cm (D)
Media: Digital prints and collage, oil pastel, US dollar coin
on stretched canvas.
POA


Artist's Note:
This artwork is inspired by much more 
than this artist's visit to New York in 2011.  
Certainly though the City that never sleeps 
is at the vanguard of modern 
Western Civilization so it is the ideal vehicle 
to use to tell this story.

Thinking about it the seemingly unstated “Vision” 
of Western Civilization currently playing out 
is one that encourages us all 
to take more personal or individual responsibility for ourselves.
That is a most worthwhile endeavour.
But I wonder though if too frequently 
we use confused means to get to the ends.
All too often dead ends.

This artwork shows the spine of New York City - BROADWAY 
running through the centre of the artwork.
If we stay on the broadway the path leads to enlightenment 
(on the right of the canvas).
But we seem to get constantly distracted 
by all of the bright lights.

Those neon graphs dominating the artwork 
are indicative of two things 
that are distracting our ability to get where we want to go.  
The incandescent white line represents 
the ever increasing expectations we have of our leaders, 
life, the World, God, each other, ourselves …whatever! 
The luminous yellow line shows the measure of our abilities 
to meet those same expectations.

It’s time we were encouraged to see ourselves in a new light.
We need a more complete vision, story or narrative of hope 
that gives us value in our lives and encourages us 
to want to keep participating and contributing.
That is yet to surface.

People may well say that this is all an artist’s idealism talking. 
But do we really have a choice? I don’t think so.  

Let's get blunt. 
The white light to the right of the artwork 
while possibly representing enlightenment or understanding 
might also represent the canvas clearing effect 
of nuclear holocaust. The problem and the solution are both us.
It all starts and finishes with us as individuals.

When people make a choice to find peace in their own lives 
then we'll be moving towards peace on earth.

The cry of our time is the need for reconnection to our environment, 
each other but most importantly to ourselves.

Rest. Reconnect and Create. NW☺︎





SEEKING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS


"To be, or not to be?" 
(Kings Cross Summer) 
Size: 210cm W x 122cm H x 5cm D
Medium: Spray paints, varnish, wooden cut out figure,
heavy quality canvas stretched over wooden frame.
$3,000

This artwork will feature in this artist's retrospective pop up exhibition 
along Oxford Street, Sydney
leading into the 2025 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (February 2025)

The figure here can be something of a mouthpiece 
for all of those looking for a better way 
by creating their own path for themselves.  

He (like all of us) needs to find his own way 
and yes, too, make his own mistakes and hopefully learn from them. 
I do so admire those who have the courage 
to walk their own walk in the face 
of a very judging world. NW☺︎


A synopsis of the artwork

The outlined figure could be any person seeking answers
driven to absolute choices by the crazy world in which we live.

The swimming pool is a symbol of the uncertainties we face in life.
Hence the message “CAREFUL DEEP WATER”. 
Being pink it could also be 'hot water'.
Perhaps the repetitive tile pattern is a rigidity 
or the formality of what life can be for so many?

The clear lacquered figure (to the right) 
can catch the light when viewed at certain angles.
It is the same outlined cut-out figure that is throwing a shadow 
across the scene (to the left).
These elements address in our lives the light and dark, 
the bright spots and the shadows, to be present or not.

The silhouetted figure appears to be walking on the water
which can be a nod to the highest part of ourselves and the spirit to survive
or to rise above it all amidst the difficulties of life's many challenges.

The artwork title "To be, or not to be?" from Shakespeare's Hamlet 
makes reference here to the choice each of us has every moment 
'to be' either conscious and aware or 'not to be' 
i.e. unconscious to ourself and the world around us. 
That includes understanding the pain that we as individuals and others might suffer.  

Ultimately it is a positive painting...
We need to acknowledge the darkness to appreciate the light.




NO PROPS NEEDED

JUST A SOLID FOUNDATION




LIBERTÉ - “I am my own flag.” (1997) 

Artist: Neville Williams

Model: Alex / PIC: Peter Holderness

Size: 75cm(H) with flagstaff (not included in this pic)

Media: Fired clay, bitumen, lacquer with wooden base

$1,200


This artwork now revisioned will feature in this artist's retrospective pop up exhibition 
along Oxford Street, Sydney
leading into the 2025 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (February 2025)



Originally this figure carried a broken flagstaff and I never really understood why. I do now.


If you know yourself yoo don’t need to carry any flag or symbol to prove self worth. Neither do yoo need anyone or anything else to prop yoo up. You’ve arrived. It’s as simple as that.

And then too it is true you never stop learning about YOO.


Plenty though need inspiration or a pointer forward.


Is it too pointed to ask where is the Flag of Surrender in our lives? NW☺︎


LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY







PIC: From the artist's 2000 community art show 
titled  "LIBERTÉ - An Exhibition of Harlequins"



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Title: LIBERTÉ (1999)

(also logo design from 2000 Exhibition)

Artist: Neville Williams

Size: 51cm (W) x 75cm (H)

Media: Charcoal, Conté crayon 

and pastels on paper (unframed)

POA


This is the first of seven very similar drawings 

that were produced as a series 

and exhibited at my solo show (with the help of others) 

during the AIDS crisis. 

One tribute for each friend lost to AIDS.

I kept the original drawing shown above but the past is now gone 

and it is time to move forward and pass the baton on!


We all face adversity at different points in our life 

and this may come in many different forms. 

Rising above the hardships that may be visited upon us 

is most surely a challenge. That is something of an understatement when we look around our world.


This drawing is intended to provide inspiration to anyone 

who might be facing a struggle in their lives. 


The only banner worth carrying is for ❤️.   


LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY 

brothers & sisters in life. NW☺︎



HARLEQUINS OF THE HOUSE




"LA COMMEDIA DELL ARTE NELLA CASA" (2008) [DETAIL]
(The Comedy of Arts in the house)
Size: 16 panels each 50cm x 50cm x 5cm
Media: Acrylic, paper dots on pressed board and stretched canvas  
The canvases are the property of the individuals featured.


This still is from an exhibition featuring 16 of the staff from the Sydney Opera House.
Each of these individuals was invited to participate because they were/are 
outstanding examples of people who are the glue that hold the place together.

And where would we be without people such as this in our society? 

The reverse of each of these portraits carries a stylised letter.
When the panels are lined up in sequence the letters spell 
☆ R-E-C-O-N-N-E-C-T-I-O-N ☆.
This must surely be the big issue of our time!

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