GREG HYDE
Sydney, Australia | 1950
Greg Hyde is an Australian painter and printmaker whose distinctive work combines European artistic traditions with observations of Australian life, landscape and culture. Born in Sydney in 1950 to Russian-Australian parents who were both commercial artists, Hyde grew up surrounded by art and developed a highly individual visual language characterised by humour, symbolism and a rich, often whimsical iconography.
After studying medicine from 1968 to 1971, Hyde travelled extensively, painting and studying art in Britain and Europe. A period in Russia in 1973 introduced him to the country's iconographic tradition, while time spent living on a small Greek island during 1976–77 further influenced his approach to landscape, mythology and colour.
Returning to Australia, Hyde continued to develop an imaginative style in which people, animals, landscape and everyday events are transformed through wit and visual storytelling. His paintings often contain layers of references and small details that reward closer inspection, balancing humour with thoughtful observations about contemporary life.
Working across painting, drawing, etching and printmaking, Hyde has exhibited extensively in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane. His work has appeared in both the Archibald and Wynne Prize exhibitions and is represented in numerous Australian and international collections. He has also illustrated children's books and undertaken a wide range of printmaking projects.
Hyde's optimistic approach to art is perhaps best summed up in his own words:
“Happy paintings provide balance to the world!”
