MARK DAVIS
Sydney, Australia | 1955–2020
Mark Davis was an Australian contemporary painter whose richly layered works explored colour, landscape, memory and our perception of the natural world. Moving between abstraction and recognisable imagery, his paintings often evoke a sense of place rather than simply describing it.
Born in Sydney in 1955, Davis studied for a Diploma of Art at Hornsby TAFE College from 1975–1979. Although formally trained, he regarded himself as largely self-taught and pursued his passion for painting for many years alongside a career in the building industry.
Davis was particularly interested in the way we perceive and remember our surroundings. His Water Lilies and Reef works are characteristic of this approach, combining energetic mark-making, strong colour and layered surfaces to create an impression of light, movement and atmosphere.
From the late 1990s Davis established an extensive exhibition career. His solo exhibitions included shows at Soho Galleries, BBA Gallery, Kenthurst Galleries, Palmer Street Gallery, Gadfly Gallery in Perth and Frances Keevil Gallery. His 2013 exhibition Sound of Colours was held at Frances Keevil Gallery, and his later exhibitions included Bleak Outlook and This Fleeting World at Fox Galleries.
His work also developed a significant association with Macquarie University Art Gallery and appeared in numerous curated exhibitions. These included Paleographia, Environs: Perspectives on Nature, Horror, Come Darkness, Fields of Vision: Art and Astronomy, On the Edge: Landscapes from the Collection and Contemporary Gallipoli. Macquarie University confirms Davis as one of the Australian artists included in the 2015 Contemporary Gallipoli exhibition.
Interest in Davis's work has continued following his death in 2020. Fox Galleries presented Reprise in 2022, while his work subsequently appeared in Macquarie University Art Gallery exhibitions including Spirit of Place in 2023 and Immersive Power of Light in 2024. Macquarie University's own record confirms his inclusion in Spirit of Place, drawn from the University's permanent collection and invited artists.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2024 — Immersive Power of Light, Macquarie University Art Gallery
2023 — Spirit of Place, Macquarie University Art Gallery
2022 — Reprise, Fox Galleries, Melbourne
2020 — This Fleeting World, Fox Galleries, Melbourne
2019 — On the Edge: Landscapes from the Collection, Macquarie University Art Gallery
2019 — Bleak Outlook, Fox Galleries, Melbourne
2015 — Contemporary Gallipoli, Macquarie University Art Gallery
2014 — Fields of Vision: Art and Astronomy, Macquarie University Art Gallery
2013 — Sound of Colours, Frances Keevil Gallery, Sydney
2011 — Across The Shelf, Gadfly Gallery, Perth
2005–2010 — Exhibitions at Kenthurst Galleries, Sydney
2002 — BBA Gallery, Sydney
2000 — Soho Galleries, Sydney
AWARDS & COLLECTIONS
Davis was a finalist in the Willoughby Art Prize in 1997 and the Hawkesbury Art Prize in 2012, and was Artist in Residence at Chroma Australia Studios in Melbourne in 1995.
His work is represented in collections including Macquarie University, Macquarie University Graduate School of Management, Lend Lease, Chroma Australia, Gainsborough Group Financiers, Holiday Inn Sydney, the Jim Cobb Collection and Lowenstein Arts Management.
Stock%20No%205.jpg)