Melinda Harper

Melinda Harper’s art reveals an unwavering commitment to abstraction, combining vivid colour with dynamic arrangements of geometric forms. Working across a broad range of media, she has produced screenprints alongside paintings, collages, drawings, embroideries and hand-painted assemblages throughout her career. Melinda began exhibiting her work during the 1980s at Pinacotheca and Store 5 in Melbourne, and in 2015 she was the subject of a major solo exhibition, Colour and Sensation: The Works of Melinda Harper at Heide Museum of Modern Art. Melinda’s work has been widely collected and is represented in public institutions including the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria and Art Gallery of New South Wales.

GETTING TO KNOW MELINDA HARPER

FAVOURITE HISTORIC ARTIST: I have always been interested in abstraction and to name one would be impossible: Otto Freundlich, Paul Klee, Lyubov Popova, Anni Albers, Matisse and Sonia Delaunay. In the last few years, I have been very interested in the American artist Anna Truitt; not only her sculptures but her works on paper and her writing.

FAVOURITE CONTEMPORARY ARTIST: Stanley Whitney is an artist that I discovered a few years ago, he makes great paintings.

FAVOURITE ART MUSEUM: I think of museums I would like to go back to and that would be Museum Ludwig in Cologne and the Tate.

LIFE-CHANGING CAREER MOMENT: I think my exhibition at Gertrude Street (now Gertrude Contemporary) in 1992, which consisted of a series of small paintings with a hand printed catalogue. They were the first paintings on canvas and were a significant group of works for me. Also, my survey exhibition Colour Sensation at Heide Museum of Modern Art. Working with curator Sue Cramer and Heide was a great experience.

STUDIO SOUNDTRACK: I do not listen to music in the studio all the time, sometimes I need silence. Things are always changing, I tend to work in the studio but often bring work in and out of my living space. I have particularly enjoyed listening to Bon Iver over the last 12 months.

PETS: I have a beautiful schnauzer, Winston. As I live in the country, dog walking has become an activity I enjoy immensely. There are many places to walk, and the joy of a dog is extremely addictive.

FAVOURITE CITY: Florence – I haven't been for a long time, but it left a lasting impression and I hope to visit again.

IF I WASN’T AN ARTIST… : I’d be a good crime writer.

FAVOURITE COLOR: That changes, but I must say blue, and greens have been a favourite in the last few years.