Sculptures and Birds is a new exhibition by James Guppy that revisits the sculptural forms which shaped his early artistic thinking. Although Guppy has spent more than fifty years working primarily as a painter, this body of work pays homage to the sculptors who inspired him, translating their physical presence into paint.
Alongside these sculptural references, native Australian birds become essential companions within each painting. Inspired by the birds that inhabit the artist’s rural surroundings, each work pairs a particular bird with a sculptural form, creating unexpected relationships and narratives. Together, bird and sculpture complete each composition, celebrating both artistic influence and the natural world.
Image: James Guppy, The void can wait, 2026 acrylic on jute, 77.0 x 116.0 cm
