ARTIST NICHOLAS BROUGHTON
CONTEMPORARY PAINTINGS
Artists
are often obsessive about their particular discipline and none more so than
Nicholas Broughton who considers a day without painting or sculpting to be incomplete
as he is a self-confessed “addict to the canvas”.
A
fascination with the human condition and a childhood passion for painting and
sculpture have crystallised in him resulting in a desire to paint pictures that
are honest expressions of his inner feelings and personal experiences – “from
the heart”.
His
varied background has no doubt contributed to this fascination for the vibrancy
of life that he so confidently depicts in his paintings and sculptures.
He
was born in Mali, in the
part of Bamako
which is now the home of the Malian jazz scene. From Mali
he moved to Brighton in England
at a young age and from there to Bangkok,
Thailand, where
he spent the next six years of his life absorbing the colours, smells and
tastes of the Orient.
His
most formative years were spent in Brazil where, in addition to
learning Portuguese, he learned to adapt to a fascinating and variegated scene
where different cultural backgrounds and traditions blend together. This time
in Brazil
helped to inspire his current "Favela" series.
The
Brazilian artist Di Cavalcanti was an early influence but after he started
painting seriously, the influence of Picasso, Modigliani, and Chagall has
dominated his canvasses and sculptures.
Nicholas
Broughton’s inimitable tattooed contour lines, clarity of idea and image, and
distinctive sense of colour attest to his daring individual stance in making
powerful impassioned statements.
“My
paintings do not have to be considered beautiful as long as they make people
think and instill in them the desired emotion,” he says.
He
believes the paintings should take you in a certain emotional direction but the
real pleasure should come between the personal interactions with each piece of
art.
People see things differently, feel things differently and react to life
differently, therefore a piece of art forms a unique relationship with each
individual.
Nicholas is featured in the book 'Contemporary Artists of Australia' written by
Michael Berry. "Be Seen and Be Heard" by Brisbane writer Ken Green, highlights
Nicholas's political and religious views as well as naked form!!
In 2004 Nicholas was commissioned to do a a family portrait of Brisbane's Lord
Mayor Campbell Newman and Lady Mayoress Lisa Newman. The painting was auctioned
to raise money for the Abused Child Trust.
Artwork visual and list of works on application
