Ep 165: Richard Lewer

Watch this interview on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel here

Step into the gripping world of Richard Lewer — where drawing, painting, and video meet the raw edges of human experience.

Richard doesn’t look away from life’s toughest stories. From the deeply personal — like the final days of his father’s life — to the harrowing and socially charged, including the tragic death of an Indigenous child in custody and the haunting Snowtown murders, he takes it all on. But never with shock tactics. His work is quietly powerful — full of feeling, sensitivity, and a surprising touch of humour. And the surfaces he paints on? Anything but traditional — think steel, aluminium, formica table tops, even billiard tables.

Richard is a multi-award-winning artist whose work has appeared in major public and private collections. He’s been a finalist multiple times in the Archibald and Sulman Prizes, and his recent acquisition by the National Gallery of Australia will soon be part of an upcoming exhibition and tour.

This was the perfect time to sit down for a deep conversation — just ahead of his new show ‘The stories that persist are not always true’ opening on 10 April at Hugo Michell Gallery.

Richard is also represented by Jan Murphy Gallery in Brisbane and Suite Gallery in New Zealand.

Links

Art work mentioned in this episode (for podcast listeners)

Richard Lewer on Instagram

Exhibition opening on 10 April at Hugo Michell Gallery

YouTube video- Richard Lewer talks with Maria Stoljar about his commissioned work at the Art Gallery of NSW

Boxing match Richard Lewer vs Luke Sinclair 2001, video, documentation of performance as art

Worse luck I’m still here, 2014, video and animation

Never Shall be Forgotten – A Mother’s Story, 2017, video and animation

Talking with Painters on Instagram

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https://youtu.be/4bei8rp-Tto?si=VJHHvFMwMcg6_2oU

‘We have grave concerns for your father’s health’ oil on epoxy-coated steel 80.5 x 141 cm Finalist Sulman prize 2019

I’m not the boy who cried wolf, 2025 80 x 120 cm acrylic on laminate tabletop

Richard’s medical disasters acrylic on linen 181.5 x 152.7cm Finalist Sulman prize 2023

NGV Confessions (one wall of several) Acrylic on pegboard

The serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals that God had made. He said to the woman ‘Did God really say that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?’. She replied ‘We may eat fruit from all the trees in the garden except for the…, 2022, acrylic on canvas, 153 x 153 cm

‘The 2006 Granny’ 2024 acrylic on linen 200.0 x 200.0 cm

‘The 2006 Granny’ 2024 acrylic on linen & 41.0 x 31.0 cm

https://youtu.be/Du-Lad05_vk?si=lW4hXdAYI9jmNEfo

Body of work ‘Steve’ acquired by the National Gallery of Australia