Julian Meagher, painter, was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1978. Meagher trained at the Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney, from 1994-97. He then studied medicine at the University of New South Wales from 1997-2003. In 2000 he again received studio-based training at the Charles H Cecil Studios Florence, Italy.
Meagher’s paintings represent an exploration into culture, into its many and diverse rituals and practices. This exploration finds expression in the tattoo as a symbol of ritual, aesthetic intrigue, personal identity and cross-cultural adaptation. In Meagher’s work, the tattoo is disassociated from its long and controversial historical past; his tattooed bodies are set before the audience as isolated, visceral designs for the viewer’s contemplation. The material result is self-referential: a painting of a painted body.
Meagher’s solo exhibitions have included 'Small Heroes’ (2010), in which he focused on the relationship existing between contemporary Australian culture and ancient Chinese traditions, 'Inks in Oil’ (2009), 'The best gesture of my brain’ (2008), and 'Integument’ (2007) at the Chalk Horse Gallery, Sydney, as well as 'Portable Shrines’ (2010) at the Edwina Corlette Gallery, Brisbane, and 'Mikoshi’ (2009) at the Scott Livesey Gallery, Melbourne. He has also exhibited in many group shows, including the Melbourne Art Fair (2010), 'Christmas Show’ (2009) at the Edwina Corlette Gallery, 'Australian Council for the Arts Group Show’ (2009), and 'Chalk Reindeer’ (2007) at the Chalk Horse Gallery.
Meagher has been a finalist in the Salon Des Refuses in 2010, 2009, 2003 and 2002. His work has been acquired by a number of collections, including Artbank, St Paul’s College and St John’s College at Sydney University, as well as by several private collectors in Sydney, Melbourne, Paris and Hong Kong. He has also been commissioned to paint several portraits for, among others, Dr David Daintree, Rector St John’s College, Sydney University, and Professor Barry Marshall, AO, Nobel Laureate.
- Writers:
- Chalk Horse Gallery
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
