SPOTLIGHT ARTWORK




THE WALL (1993)
Size: 130cm W x 120cm H
Medium: Oils. Acrylic, Gold marker, Photographs, 
newspaper clippings on stretched canvas, framed
This artwork no longer exists.

The following words appeared on the artwork 
adjacent to photographs of The Wall at Green Park, Darlinghurst:-

“They built their wall
and judgements' cruelty drained their souls
and left them empty of self knowing
All that's left is their mark up on the stone
A memory in a mirror

They walked their wall
Their empty beggars bowls screaming silence
Hollowed by the siphons of a civilized society
A temporary fix of flight
Over in a night 

They dignify their wall 
and pointing fingers turn on themselves
The judged released from judgement
A bluebird rising to the sky
leads the way to discovering the light

And from these ashes
a greater phoenix will rise".


                                                                                         - Neville Williams




SPOTLIGHT ARTWORK

 Sunshine is coming.


Bill's Cafe  (1993)
Size: Two panels combined 180cm W x 130cm H
Medium: Bitumen, Gold Leaf, Newsprint, Charcoal on board
PRIVATE COLLECTION

"In the cafe of outside time
The outdoor cafe of time
Find a place to seat yourself
Where, without coffee or cigarettes or wine,
You may observe the subtleties of gesture and concealment
Measure the ghostly vestments of relationships
Judge the balances of need
And if you hear amid the hard-won myths of memory
A bird's momentary song
It will be as if you had been permitted
A cold glass of pure water
Before being moved on by the management"
                                                                                  - Bill Paton

This artwork was inspired by the above poem by Bill Paton.
The painting shows people alone in a bar (on Oxford Street Darlinghurst)
The main figure sits head down on table. 
In front of him is his glowing “cold glass of pure water”.

The empty cavernous space of the bar is being filled by the dawning light 
flooding through the huge bay window on the right of the work.

There was nothing half measured about Bill Paton. A real artist.

Bill Paton left us too early in his talented life.

This artwork was awarded the Community Lawyers Art Prize (CLAP)
at the 1993 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. 
(And what a great year's Mardi Gras that was. It had real heart in it.)

(CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE)









WHERE ARE WE HEADING?


THE RISE OR FALL OF WESTERN CIVILISATION?
[Study for "THE AMERICAN DREAM"(after Whiteley)]
Artist: Neville Williams ©️Arts Law Australia
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 Civilisation 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/love 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. - Neville ☺︎

 

A taste of Sunshine!


BONDI THE BEAUTIFUL


AFTER THE STORM - BONDI (1993)
©️Arts Law Australia
Size: 120cm W x 110cm H
Medium: Acrylic, gold leaf, sand grounding, 
collage on stretched canvas, framed
PRIVATE COLLECTION

There is some pathos associated with this artwork. 
It was inspired by the loss to us of a young man in his 20's who turned heads 
wherever he went not only for his natural good looks 
but his unpretentious, simple, honest, genuine open nature.

The finished painting shows him walking alone along an empty Bondi Beach 
following a storm.

Actual flotsam and jetsam collected from this beach 
has become the landscape of Bondi in the artwork.

There are metaphors that can be drawn from this canvas.
The painting makes me wonder what sort of a legacy we are leaving 
for the young people who are following us.

AFTER A STORM COMES A RAINBOW FOLLOWED BY THE SUN.


😢


HEAD OUT OF THE SAND



BONDI MIRAGE (Summer 2022)

©️Arts Law Australia

Size: 177cm (W) x 122cm (H)

Media: Mixed Media on stretched canvas (unframed)

PRIVATE COLLECTION 



We have our heads in the sand for what is on the horizon. 

In short what appears to be the case is that we have a reluctance to share 

the responsibilities of a youth nation.


We want to continue to play in the sand pit of life building our castles and laughing in the Sun. 

That’s not seeing a bigger picture of reality.


Look around. The sound principles of planning for our future have been forgotten. 

The focus on our humanity is being lost and as a result so will we.


You can’t “whack” a band aid on our future. 

The future has a way of rearing up when you don’t expect it and biting us on the backside.


We can either put an overarching vision in place or face the consequences of a volatile world that doesn’t give a tinkers toss about you and your family’s wellbeing.


In short we can’t live on a sunny island in the Pacific ignoring the rest of the world. 

That is the bigger picture. We need to embrace this reality.


Previous Governments have not given us vision and so it was/is our duty to put people in charge who will plan for our future. A warning is being made not only to governments but the corporates and also each of us as individuals. If we don't set our own plan forward most assuredly others will.


Real leaders know what is needed to initiate vision. 

You can bet that quietly they have a huge question mark above their heads pondering whether you would help or support them in doing this. 


Wanting our problems to go away and sort themselves out is not being realistic.


It all comes down to work. There’s no other way. 

For a leisure programmed nation that appears to be anathema. 

That is why leaders hesitate. That is why too many others hesitate. Get used to being out of your comfort zone. The only choice is whether yoo want to be in charge of your life direction or whether you are going to let others drag you screaming in their decided direction.


Joe Biden when US President talked about finding a backbone. 


If you want a future that makes you happy 

then you are going to have to make it happen yourself.


We need a vision taking us forward. 

If we keep treading water we will drown.



😎



BONDI BREAKERS (2011)
Size: 120cm W x 100cm H x 5cm D on stretched canvas
Media: Oil pastels, water based acrylic, approx. 1000 paper dots
PRIVATE COLLECTION


Simplicity in life. Way to go!


😀



PORTRAIT OF A SYDNEY FAMILY (2009)
(clockwise) Meet Howard, Sue, Joshua, Ariane & Nathan

Size: Four panels each measures 50cm x 50cm x 4cm
Medium: Acrylic, glitter paint, pearl pigments on stretched canvas
PRIVATE COMMISSION

We get plenty of opportunity to be “consumers” or to take in our world today.
But how much opportunity do we get to be “producers” or to be creative?
And even if we get that opportunity to be creative do we take it?

The word “sustainable” almost seems to be over used nowadays
but it can be comfortably said that this family live sustainable lives.
They give easily as good as they may take in quite a literal sense.

PS Bondi Beach appears in the background of this portrait.
You might chance upon members of this family
if you're walking down there on a sunny day.


🌞




SUNSHINE(reconnection 1)
(A guiding light for Sydney, Australia...the World)
 ©️ Arts Law Australia
Size: 120cm (H) x 132cm (W)
Media: Acrylic and paper dots on stretched canvas
PRIVATE COLLECTION


You are looking at an exuberant sunburst of light and life 
over Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia and the World.

An artwork designed to encourage us to celebrate life!

Celebrate the victory of light over darkness, 
good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.  NW 









AIMING FOR THE STARS

WITH YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND
(A sculpture about evolving into being a better person) Version No. 8

We're coming down to earth with a thud presently.
So finally feet meet the ground.

Note the addition of the shining star...silver not gold.

We do so want that gold. 
Perhaps that is all part of the learning process?
Learning to accept silver is not necessarily a bad thing in the journey along our pathway.

Would you better appreciate the gold when yoo finally arrive?

I found this silver star while cleaning out my Mother's room at her aged care village following her passing recently. 

While I always saw the perfect in Mum she did suffer because of the very high standards she set for herself and yes sometimes too of others.


Another friend also passed recently. Amongst many memories I will fondly remember that he had the fantastic ability to accept other peoples shortcomings.

Acceptance and surrender are things we might all do better. N. 
10 Jan. 2026
_______

Version No. 7

TOWARDS PIERROT [free(me)]

ARTIST: Neville Williams©️Arts Law Australia

MEDIA: Fired Clay, lacquer, polished brass, 
indelible ink on wooden base.
SIZE: 72cm(H)  Base: 20cm square
NFS


Above is the seventh evolution of this particular sculpture. 
This is in fact a self portrait that parallels the journey of the artist's life. 
But it could also be a portrait of all of us. 
We are all walking the path of life with its many ups and downs.

It is noted in this particular version there is some hope. 
He has dropped his club (see the base of the sculpture).

His feet appear to need to come down to earth.
That rod up his arse doesn't help!

The ties that bind him are breaking away 
so there is more freedom in his life. 
He is reaching for the stars 
but still needs to understand that the stars he is looking for 
are not in the heavens but within inside himself. 

The universe inside us all is waiting for discovery. 19 Aug. 25

🔴





TOWARDS PIERROT (Version 6)

ARTIST: Neville Williams©️Arts Law Australia

MEDIA: Fired Clay, lacquer, gold leaf, 
polished brass, indelible ink on wooden base.
SIZE: 63cm (H)  Base: 20cm square


TOWARDS PIERROT

(On connection)


What is life without connection?

A shell of emptiness

An existence without purpose

Ambitions without foundation

A story without direction

Like waiting for Godot


I knew connection

A freedom from weighty thoughts

A quiet happiness

A peaceful bliss

The absence of internal struggle

Swimming amongst the stars inside


Out you go into the wild jungle

the oceans depth, the empty desert

the crazy world


So where to from here?

A new journey has begun

To overcome fear

Of the good inside.


Do we make a trial of it

Or a conscious adventure 

towards celebration?

Time for the never-ending circle

To become a whorl of life.

YOU discovering YOO.


꩜


[click on pics to enlarge]



...the history follows




CHANGE, DISAPPOINTMENT

AND BEING FLEXIBLE

IN OUR LIVES



Chameleon Harlequin 

(DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARTWORK)



This original sculpture has been reworked 
using the same sculpture. 

Each time he has either been knocked down, 
dropped accidentally, deliberately broken
or pulled apart I have needed to rebuild him. 
 
Each time he has been reworked he evolves …a bit. 


When we are broken we can put the pieces back together 
in a more interesting, fluid and creative way…

...or we can stay broken. There's a choice.

We can either be flexible, learn and grow or stay rigid 
placing ourselves behind defensive barriers and not budging 
from our small pond mindset.
 


Stay rigid though and sooner or later 
there'll be an almighty crack!
This is the voice of lived experience here.

Don't waste it. Live it and learn. NW☺︎

It has something to do with 
appreciation, acceptance, flexibility, humility and surrender. ðŸŒˆ


🔹🔷🔹


Chameleon Harlequin


ARTIST: Neville Williams
MEDIA: Fired Clay, lacquer, gold leaf, 
polished brass, indelible ink on wooden base.
SIZE: 63cm (H)  Base: 20cm square


This Harlequin is still in a process of change.
He is feeling bound up. 
This is not uncommon to many at present.
It feels like a rationalisation is in process.

We are being made to look at ourselves and decide
what is important to us and what is not.

Quite a difficult time. NW☺︎ 3 Feb. 2023




Rest in peace dear Lady. 

URIEL means Angel

Uriel Williams
~ A LADY WHO LIVED WITH DIGNITY ~

29 August 1932 - 19 December 2025

🔴

SPOTLIGHT ARTWORK
(from HOME SERIES)



AUSTRALIAN RETRO (1961, 2011)  (2011)
Artist: Neville Williams ©️Arts Law Australia
Size: Two panels each measures 60cm W x 60cm H x 5cm D
Medium: Acrylic, pencil on stretched canvas, unframed
PRIVATE COLLECTION


Today my Mother passed away. My Father passed away in 2015.
What great parents they were. 
My Mother laughed all the time and by her nature could light a room. 
My Father was a simple and honest man.

Here is a portrait of my parents at home in the Western suburbs of Sydney.
Their fibro cottage built by my carpenter father was originally White then painted Wisteria, 
Green or Blue at different times (now brick veneered).

They were open, simple, friendly, down to earth grass roots Australians
who earned everything they got by placing one foot after the other.
They knew the meaning of hard work and didn't expect anything from anyone.

I wanted them to be seen in the bright light of day
as this mostly matches their outlook on life.

The changes of the passing of time do bring gut wrenching grief for what we have lost. 
But as these doors close others can open if we let them.

The simple openness of my parents was a wonder in itself. 

LOVE YOO MUM.❤️
- Neville 19 Dec. 2025 

Concept photo montage for the artwork
"AUSTRALIAN RETRO (1961, 2011)"  (2011)
Artist: Neville Williams ©️Arts Law Australia


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