Adnate is an artist that realizes his portraits in spray paint. He has moved past his roots in graffiti, utilizing the medium to carry his realist style into the fine art realm.
Heavily influenced by the chiaroscuro of renaissance painters like Caravaggio, Adnate embraces portraiture like the masters of the XXI Century.
Elevating graffiti art above the level of letter writing, Adnate’s subject matter and their subsequent status often belies the intent of his portraits. The gaze of modern society, cropped with colour from the street/renaissance, he examines the idea of who we are looking at. In particular, those who we are obsessed by and how fragile the origin of that obsession is.
His works are often cropped by evocative slices of vibrant colour, channeling a presence of character, much like a still life uses its' background as a setting for detail and showing of fine brushstrokes. Adnate’s realism is highlighted by the use of what appears careless, but is frequently calculated blocks of vibrant colour.
Adnate’s work can be seen in Barcelona, Berlin, Mumbai, New York, Paris and Sydney. He is frequently commissioned by the City of Melbourne, the city where he resides – the outcomes of which you can see on a multitude of walls and buildings throughout urban areas. He has proven himself a master of large-scale painting – his largest mural stretching up to 23 metres in height.
Adnate is considered one of the most influential street artists in Australia and has used his artistic practice to draw focus to the indigenous peoples of Australia. He has worked closely with a cultural advisor and has spent time in indigenous communities to ensure that he is portraying his subjects with the upmost respect.
Selected Solo Exhibition
2016
‘Always Been Here’ Metro Gallery, Melbourne
2015
‘Into The Sun’ Nanda Hobbs, Sydney
2014
‘Beyond The Lands’ Metro Gallery, Melbourne
2012
‘Lost Culture’ RTIST Gallery, Melbourne
2011 ‘
Point of View’ Box 32 Gallery, Berlin
Selected Recent Group Shows
2012
‘Rinse & Repeat’ Ambush, Sydney
Molecule Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, Collaborative installation/exhibition with E.L.K.
‘Fabric’ AWOL Crew, Melbourne
2011
‘Signs of Life’ No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne
2010
‘Small Art Show’ For Walls Gallery, Melbourne
2008
Per Square Meter Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
‘Sleep is the Cousin of Death’ Adidas & Peak Street present, Group Group GroupExhibition
Villain Presents Cutouts Group Exhibition
‘Dualidad’ Catalan Adjustment Gallery, Barcelona, Spain – collaborative exhibition with Spanish artist Panor
2007
Panic Gallery, Melbourne, Australia, Extempore
2006
Panic Gallery, Melbourne, Australia Extempore
Awards and Recognition
2016
Finalist – Doug Moran Prize for Portraiture 2016