PETER SMETS
- Margaret Ackland
- Kate Baker
- Doug Bartlett
- Max Berry
- Annette Bezor
- Terry Bradley
- Penny Coss
- Rhonda Dee
- Dan O'Toole - Ears
- Anne-France Fulgence
- Ginny Grayson
- Paul Haggith
- Mark Harrison
- Adam Hill
- Anna Hoyle
- Cate Maddy
- Anthony Morrison
- Lorna Murray
- Christopher Orchard
- Lauren Potts
- Deborah Sleeman
- Sue Smalkowski
- Peter Smets
- Ian Swift
- Lisa Tomasetti
- Samone Turnbull
- Marika Varady
- John Waters
ABOUT THE ARTIST
“The beautiful may be encountered under the most diverse aspects. As soon as it is found there it belongs to art, or rather, to the artist who knows how to see it there.”
– Gustave Courbet, 1861
The words of Courbet resonate in the paintings of Peter Smets. Born in the Netherlands but a Gold Coast resident for the past 19 years, Smets finds inspiration in the processes of urbanization: “I am fascinated with the never ending development of the city - the view you cannot miss wherever you go. I see the tools of construction as works of art in themselves.”
Intriguing juxtapositions between the natural and the man-made give 'edge' with surreal undertones. The pictures are essentially still and a curious serenity prevails. They may well be about the activity of building, but all work has halted. The tiny figures of the workmen appear nonchalant - at ease with their surroundings. A mixture of indifference and acceptance, their casual poses defy the harsh immensity of the machines and constructions which envelope them.
– Jacqueline Houghton
STOCKROOM
ARTIST'S CURRICULUM VITAE
Born 1962, Koningslust, The Netherlands
Education| 2008 | Study tour of Major Art Centre of Europe with particular reference to the Technique of the Old Masters. |
| 1999 | Return to Europe to study in more detail the technique of the 17th Century Masters under Orlando Wille, Basel Switzerland |
| 1986 | Migrated to Australia |
| 1984-1985 | Study tour of Major Art Centre of Europe with particular reference to the Technique of the Old Masters |
| 1982-1984 | Still life & Portraiture under Jan Everson |
| 1982-1984 | Associated studies in traditional Realism under Jan Trepels |
| 1980-1982 | Colour under Rhein Van Poortvlied (2 years) |
| 1978-1980 | Fine Art Course at Maastricht Art School, Holland; specializing in drawing, under Gerard Coenen |
| 2010 | Harrison Galleries, Sydney |
| 2010 | Anthea Polson Art, Gold Coast |
| 2009 | Axia Modern Art, Melbourne |
| 2008 | Art Galleries Schubert, Gold Coast |
| 2007 | Dewards Fine Art Gallery, Brisbane |
| 2006 | Richard Martin Art, Sydney |
| 2005 | Richard Martin Art, Sydney |
| 2011 | Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize, Brisbane (Invitation only) |
| 2011 | Salon Des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, NSW |
| 2010 | Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize (Invitation only) |
| 2010 | Axia Modern Art, Melbourne |
| 2009 | Prometheus Visual Art Award, Gold Coast (Finalist) |
| 2009 | The Wynne Prize, NSW (Finalist) |
| 2009 | The Sulman Prize, NSW (Finalist) |
| 2008 | Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize, Brisbane (Finalist) |
| 2007 | Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize, Brisbane (Finalist) |
| 2007 | Prometheus Visual Art Award, Gold Coast (Finalist) |
| 2007 | Stan and Maureen Duke Art Prize, Gold Coast (Finalist) |
| 2006 | Doug Moran National Portrait Prize (Finalist) |
| 2006 | Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize, Brisbane (Members Vote Award)) |
| 2005 | Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize, Brisbane (Finalist) |
| 2004 | Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize, Brisbane (Members Vote Award) |
| 2004 | Conrad Jupiter Art Award, Gold Coast (Finalist) |
| 2003 | Conrad Jupiter Art Award, Gold Coast (Finalist) |
| 2003 | Salon Des Refuses, The Wynne, NSW |
| 2001 | The Konami & South Tweed Realist Landscape (Finalist) |
| 2000 | Redland Art Award, Brisbane |
| 2000 | Pine Rivers Art Award, Brisbane |
| M.P. Thomas Collection, California, USA | |
| Ministerie van LNV, Maastricht, The Netherlands | |
| Zurich Insurance, Sydney | |
| R. Ubach Collection, Switzerland | |
| Tweed River Art Gallery, NSW | |
| Cristina Madrazo Collection, Mexico | |
| Gemeente Heerlen, Heerlen, The Netherlands | |
| David Dabscheck, New York, USA | |
| P. Anderson Collection, London, England | |
| Many private and corporate collections throughout Australia | |
| Nanao-shi Ishikawa, Osaka, Japan | |
| S. Hausen Collection, Dresden, Germany | |
| Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Queensland |