Artist Bio
New Zealand-based artist Brad Donovan began his artistic career earlier than most, selling his drawings to other children in the primary school playground. Today, his bright, super-flat style and playful humour is capturing the attention of dealers, collectors, and galleries worldwide. Donovan draws inspiration from cartoons and book illustrations, but equally, the works of the old masters, resulting in a juxtaposition of traditional themes and compositions with contemporary imagery. His precisely rendered two-dimensional forms of his signature acrylic style inspire a sense of nostalgia for 1990s cartoons in viewers, providing instant and wide appeal. However, it is a closer examination of all his careful, deliberate details that reveal the artistic vision and finesse that has landed Donovan’s work in private collections and on gallery walls in recent years.
Artist Statement
My work develops from my imagination and by drawing on inspiration from the masters and various pop imagery.
I set out to create paintings that simplify the scene, only including what I require to tell the story in honest and simple forms.
The end result creates a sense of playfulness while provoking feelings of familiarity and curiosity.
My process is always developing as I experiment and implement new methods. But, my end result always remains true to my vision and my practice as a painter.
Past Exhibitions
2016 TEA & BIKKIES Solo show, A+E Gallery, Napier, NZ
2016 TO THE POINT Group show, Seed Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2016 EAST Group show, Hastings City Art Gallery, Hastings, NZ
2017 SHARED PLOTS Group show, SPA_CE Gallery, Napier, NZ
2018 STRATUS Solo show, The Poi Room, Auckland, NZ
2019 NO GUTS NO GLORY Group Show, Green Street Projects, Wellington, NZ
2019 NEW PAINTINGS Solo Show, Green Street Projects, Wellington, NZ
2019 PLAYTIME Group Show, Muse Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay, NZ
2020 EAST Group show, Hastings City Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay, NZ
2020 PLAYTIME Group Show, Muse Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay, NZ
2021 2021 Group Show, Galerie Ovo, Taipei, Taiwan
2021 THE NOW Virtual group show, Artistellar.com
2021 WALK OF WONDERS Group Show, Hawkes Bay, NZ
2021 HUIHUI - WHITU Group Show, Hawkes Bay, NZ
2021 PEOPLE, PLEASE! Solo Show, Soft Corner Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2022 IMAGINARY FRIEND Group Show, Mozuku Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2022 SMALL Group Show, Australia
2022 INSTAGRAM LIVE Group Show, Australia
Upcoming
2022 KAWAII Group Show, Maddox Gallery, London
2022 UNTITLED Group Show, SINGAPORE
2023 UNTITLED Group show, Shanghai, China
2023 UNTITLED Solo show, Shanghai, China
Awards
2016 Wallace Arts Trust Awards- Finalist
2019 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award- Finalist
Press
ART EDIT Issue 29
ONES TO WATCH
New Zealand-based artist Brad Donovan began his artistic career earlier than most, selling his drawings to other children in the primary school playground. Today, his bright, super-flat style and playful humour is capturing the attention of dealers, collectors, and galleries worldwide. Donovan draws inspiration from cartoons and book illustrations, but equally, the works of the old masters, resulting in a juxtaposition of traditional themes and compositions with contemporary imagery. His precisely rendered two-dimensional forms of his signature acrylic style inspire a sense of nostalgia for 1990s cartoons in viewers, providing instant and wide appeal. However, it is a closer examination of all his careful, deliberate details that reveal the artistic vision and finesse that has landed Donovan’s work in private collections and on gallery walls in recent years.
Artist Statement
My work develops from my imagination and by drawing on inspiration from the masters and various pop imagery.
I set out to create paintings that simplify the scene, only including what I require to tell the story in honest and simple forms.
The end result creates a sense of playfulness while provoking feelings of familiarity and curiosity.
My process is always developing as I experiment and implement new methods. But, my end result always remains true to my vision and my practice as a painter.
Past Exhibitions
2016 TEA & BIKKIES Solo show, A+E Gallery, Napier, NZ
2016 TO THE POINT Group show, Seed Gallery, Auckland, NZ
2016 EAST Group show, Hastings City Art Gallery, Hastings, NZ
2017 SHARED PLOTS Group show, SPA_CE Gallery, Napier, NZ
2018 STRATUS Solo show, The Poi Room, Auckland, NZ
2019 NO GUTS NO GLORY Group Show, Green Street Projects, Wellington, NZ
2019 NEW PAINTINGS Solo Show, Green Street Projects, Wellington, NZ
2019 PLAYTIME Group Show, Muse Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay, NZ
2020 EAST Group show, Hastings City Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay, NZ
2020 PLAYTIME Group Show, Muse Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay, NZ
2021 2021 Group Show, Galerie Ovo, Taipei, Taiwan
2021 THE NOW Virtual group show, Artistellar.com
2021 WALK OF WONDERS Group Show, Hawkes Bay, NZ
2021 HUIHUI - WHITU Group Show, Hawkes Bay, NZ
2021 PEOPLE, PLEASE! Solo Show, Soft Corner Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2022 IMAGINARY FRIEND Group Show, Mozuku Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2022 SMALL Group Show, Australia
2022 INSTAGRAM LIVE Group Show, Australia
Upcoming
2022 KAWAII Group Show, Maddox Gallery, London
2022 UNTITLED Group Show, SINGAPORE
2023 UNTITLED Group show, Shanghai, China
2023 UNTITLED Solo show, Shanghai, China
Awards
2016 Wallace Arts Trust Awards- Finalist
2019 Molly Morpeth Canaday Award- Finalist
Press
ART EDIT Issue 29
ONES TO WATCH
