JahRoc Galleries is excited to represent accomplished Margaret River Artist, Lauren Wilhelm, and welcome the presence of her graceful paintings in our gallery. Enjoy this feature on Lauren who tells us a bit about herself and the passion behind her work.

Q&A – Getting to know Lauren Wilhelm….

When did you first feel the desire to be artistic and realize you had talent?

I can’t ever remember not drawing or painting. My parents have kept quite detailed drawings from when I was very young; it’s what I enjoyed most. Strangely, even from a young age I drew horses and almost classical figures in armour.

Where did you learn your art?

Murray Gill was a teacher of mine in primary school and when I studied Fine Art I had some excellent lecturers. Mostly I was self-taught though, through trial and error. Everyone needs to find their style and although you can learn certain techniques and tricks it’s best to find things out on your own, I think.

What inspires you most?

History. Animals. Classical portraiture. Textures and the way colours can vibrate when they meet.

What message are you sending to the viewer of your art?

I’m not really sending a message or creating a narrative per se, but I like to hold a feeling when I’m painting, and sometimes it creates an emotional response in the viewer, I’m told. Sometimes the work is a tad dark but in a nicely melancholic, bittersweet way, I hope.

Describe your Studio…

I rented a wonderful 60s studio in a park in Northbridge in the city, which I shared with a few other artists for many years. Called Robertson Park Studio, it was heritage listed as the old City of Perth Band Practice hall, and full of light and space. But since moving to a 35 acre property near Cowaramup 18 months ago, I work from my garage while my studio is slowly getting built next to the house. The garage is not ideal but the environment is so pretty with all the bushland around it, that it makes up for everything. I have beautiful music playing while I work and my rescued rainbow lorikeet, Squishy, sits on my shoulder while I paint, and sings along.

Describe your typical day of creating art…

I’m in the studio by about 8.30am and generally work until midday as the light is better in the morning and it’s cooler. There’s so much work to do on the property that sometimes I find it hard to get into the studio, but I tend not to feel very grounded if I’ve missed a more than a couple of days. I try to be in there every day, even if I’m not feeling inspiration as I read somewhere once that that’s the difference between a serious artist and someone doing it as a hobby. Some good work has come when I’ve not really felt like painting much, but I’ve been just playing and experimenting. I think it’s important to enjoy the process, and not feel anxious about the outcome. The best work happens like that, for me.

What mediums do you use and why?

I use mostly oils but I enjoy acrylics for a change sometimes.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on some small works on wooden blocks. I really enjoy the texture after painting on canvas.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love that I get to work with my imagination and can make my own hours. I’m a bit of an introvert so I like spending time by myself, painting

Where can you see yourself in 10 years time’

Hmmm, that’s a good one. I’d like to take a few years and paint from a studio in Italy, I think Verona would be nice! I have good friends in Italy and I love the lifestyle, and the history is so inspiring to me. I’m getting better at the language so I hope in 10 years I would have mastered all the tenses and be pretty fluent without agonising over it, like I do now. But I’d still like to be based in the south-west, happily in my new studio with Squishy.

Artist Statement

Western Australian Artist Lauren Wilhelm is well recognised for her oil on canvas paintings of graceful horses and immaculate riders, the sense of freedom and contentment in these beautiful paintings have questions sitting behind them encouraging the viewer to contemplate. Long standing in her career award winning Lauren Wilhelm studied Fine Art, and has had numerous successful group and solo exhibitions since 2003. “My work is an examination of the human condition as I see it – the ephemeral nature of life and our preoccupation with the minutia of everyday living, ignoring our own expiry and the damage to the environment around us” Lauren Wilhelm.

Artist Biography

My work is an examination of the human condition as I see it – the ephemeral nature of life and our preoccupation with the minutia of everyday living, ignoring our own expiry and the damage to the environment around us. I’m fascinated with everyday history – the lives that have gone before us and been forgotten. Juxtaposing classical images and modern themes, my paintings are my comment on transience. I reference the classical portrait with the often arrogant, invincible gaze of the wealthy landowner – and contrast the contemporary equivalent in the form of the modern day land developer and the fact that prestige, wealth or beauty are still no weapon against time. I’m also exploring the part animals play in human lives – the realities and mythologies. I want my canvases to ask questions and the viewer to find joy in discovering unique and personal answers.

Solo Exhibitions

2021 – Solipsism, JahRoc Galleries, Margaret River, Western Australia
2015 – Suburban Intrigue, JahRoc Galleries, Margaret River, Western Australia
2014 – Vainglorious, Gallows Gallery, Mosman Park, Western Australia
2013 – Branch, Gallows Gallery, Mosman Park, Western Australia
2013 – Estate, Margaret River Gallery, Margaret River, WA
2012 – Lineage, Gallows Gallery, Mosman Park, Western Australia
2012 – Bittersweet, Margaret River Gallery, Margaret River, WA
2011 – Wings We Lack, Gallows Gallery, Mosman Park, Western Australia
2010 – Quixotic, Margaret River Gallery, Margaret River, WA
2008 – Saudade, Monart Studio & Gallery, Dalkeith, WA
2007 – Continuum, Stuart Street Gallery, Northbridge WA
2007 – Permanent Transience, Maree Mizon Gallery, Woollahra, NSW
2006 – Let It Fall, Tristan’s Gallery, Northbridge WA
2005 – Particular Realities, Monart Studio & Gallery, Dalkeith, WA
2004 – Submerged, Monart Studio & Gallery, Dalkeith, WA

Selected Group Exhibitions

2014 – Vainglorious, Gallows Gallery, Mosman Park, Western Australia
2013 – Branch, Gallows Gallery, Mosman Park, Western Australia
2013 – Estate, Margaret River Gallery, Margaret River, WA
2013 – Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy
2013 – Stations of the Cross
2012 – Cossack Art Prize, Cossack, Western Australia
2011 – Out There, Riseborough Winery, Gingin WA
2010 – Artitude, Burswood, WA
2010 – Cossack Art Prize, Cossack, Western Australia
2009 – Portia Geach Memorial Art Award exhibition 2009, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney NSW – Highly Commended
2009 – Cossack Art Prize, Cossack, Western Australia
2008 – Hats and Horses, Gorepani Art Gallery Albany WA
2008 – Cossack Art Prize, Cossack, Western Australia
2007 - Group show New York, Agora Gallery, Manhattan, New York USA
2007 – Art Melbourne, VIC
2007 – Mandorla Art Award 2007, Central TAFE, WA
2007 – Mandorla Art Award 2007, Shortlisted for exhibition at New Norcia Monastery art gallery, WA
2006 – The Collectable 4, Stuart St Gallery, Northbridge
2006 – Town of Vincent Art Awards, Leederville, WA
2006 – Treasure Box, Monart Studio & Gallery, Dalkeith, WA
2006 – City of Wanneroo Art Award, Wanneroo Civic Centre, WA
2006 – Group show, Distracted Art Shop, Leederville, WA
2005 – Artitude, Perth Convention Centre, WA
2005 – Time, Monart Studio & Gallery, Dalkeith, WA
2005 – Town of Vincent Art Awards, Leederville, WA
2003 – City of Perth Art Awards, Council House, Perth, WA

Awards

2014 – ‘Premio della Critica’ award ‘The Illusion of Reality’ exhibition Bologna, Italy
2012 – Winner, Cossack Art Prize, Shire of Roebourne, WA – acquisitive
2009 – Winner, Cossack Art Prize, Shire of Roebourne, WA – acquisitive
2006 – Winner City of Wanneroo Open Art Award – acquisitive
2005 – Town of Vincent art awards, winner John Hyde MLA Award

Public Collections

Horizon Power
Must Winebar
City of Wanneroo Council Chambers

Academic Background

1991 – Traditional Drawing and Etching Techniques course, Hungarian Academy of Art
1990 – BA Design, Curtin University, Western Australia
1986 – Enrolled in Advanced Certificate in Fine Art, Western Australian College Advanced Education