|
|
 |
|
|
Born in Sydney in 1970, Ralph Heimans studied Fine Arts and Pure Mathematics at the University of Sydney and later at the Julian Ashton Art School. He received his first commission in 1988, beginning a series of portraits, still lifes and figurative works for private collectors in Sydney. By 1996, his commissions included paintings of leading Australian public figures for institutions such as the Compensation Court of NSW and the Australian Army. Three portraits of this period hang in the National Portrait Gallery of Australia: former minister Tom Uren, Anthropologist Derek Freeman, and High Court Judge Justice Kirby, a work which has received much popular support.
Ralph Heimans moved to Europe in 1997, following a commission from the European Court in Luxembourg and began a string of portraits for London-based collectors. Demand for his large-scale group portraits led to new commissions in New York, Boston, Santa Fe and Paris, whilst maintaining links with Australia ensured further commissions in Sydney and Melbourne. Amongst these works, Ralph Heimans' self portrait was exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery in London, and his portrait of the French National Rugby team was hung in the Hotel de Ville in Paris.
Recent projects include a major corporate commission in Dubai, portraits for the Australian National Trust and the University of Melbourne. The first official portrait of Princess Mary of Denmark represents Ralph Heimans' most prestigious commission to date. Unveiled by the Princess on 7th April 2006 at the National History Museum of Denmark, the painting was celebrated as representing an innovative approach to the genre of Royal Portraiture. It received widespread critical acclaim in Danish, European and Australian Media.
Ralph Heimans' work has been described to have a disarming quality, recalling the methods and conventions of 16th and 17th century European portraiture, while at the same time playfully undermining those traditions. Although his technical approach pays homage to masters like Caravaggio and Velazquez, particularly in the use of chiaroscuro, his subject matter is distinctly contemporary, drawing inspiration from technology and images of modern life. His work is a departure from the way in which portraiture, and the process of commissioning art, is generally understood. Rather than conventionally depicting his subjects, his paintings offer a detailed narrative about their character and life story. Subjects are often portrayed in action or in a context containing clues about their lives. These settings are reconstructed, either from the imagination, or by altering places of actual significance, which contributes to the surreal quality of some of his work. The play of strong light and shadow, a dominant recurring theme, further enhances the sense of an imagined reality.
*Click here to download the artists biography and list of commissions
(For PC: Right-Click and Save Link as...
For Mac : Option + Click )
*Click here to download photos of the artist: Photo 1, Photo 2
(For PC: Right-Click and Save Link as...
For Mac : Option + Click ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
 |
| 2007 |
Portrait of the Hong Tan family, Perth
Portrait of Rohan Chowdry, Sydney
Portraits for the Ginges family, Sydney
Portraits for the Richards family, Sydney |
|
|
| 2006 |
Portrait of Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, The National History Museum, Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark
Portrait of Professor Robin Marks, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Melbourne
Portrait for M. Griffiths QC, London
Portrait of Lord Casey, Trinity College, Melbourne
Portrait of Sonia Marquis, Sydney |
|
|
| 2005 |
Portrait for George Philips, London
Painting for Privity Holdings Ltd, Dubai
Portrait of Caroline Simpson, The Australian National Trust, Lindesay House, Sydney
|
|
|
| 2004 |
Portrait for the McCarthy family, London
Portrait of Caroline Simpon, The Mint, Sydney
Portrait of R.Stitt QC, Sydney
Self Portrait in the Metro, exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, London
Still Life for William Smadja, Paris |
|
|
| 2003 |
Preparation sur la Terre Rouge (Portrait of the French Rugby Team), EDF Art collection, Paris
Painting for D. Joseph QC, London
Portrait for G.Galambos, Sydney
Portrait of M. Dyer, Sydney
Portrait for Kaldor family, London
Portrait of Henri Claudel, Paris
Portrait for Cunningham family, New York
Portrait for Andreeva Fine Art Portraits, Santa Fe
Portrait for Dr Daniel Bley, Boston
|
|
|
| 2002 |
Figurative painting for Vladimijr Attard, London
Portrait of David Hakim, Sydney
Portrait of Meg Sinclair, Melbourne
Portrait for George Philips, London
|
|
|
| 2001 |
Portrait for Blaustein family, New York
Portrait for Hasan Financial Corporation, London
Painting for Simon Haynes-Oliver, London
Portrait for George Phillips, London
Portrait of Ken Dyer, Sydney
|
|
|
| 2000 |
Portrait of Bill Waterhouse, Sydney
Portrait of Kate Waterhouse, Sydney
Portrait of Eli Amson, Paris
Portrait of Michael Biss, Toronto
Portrait for Kate Cornet, London |
|
|
| 1999 |
Still life for R. Wilson, London
Portrait of Harry Amson, Paris
Portrait of Dr J. Joseph, London
Portrait of the McCardel family, Melbourne
Portrait for Margaret Wu, Melbourne
Portraits for Foeden family, Melbourne
Portrait of Thomas Sinclair, Melbourne
|
|
|
| 1998 |
Portrait of Mr and Mrs Nootenboom for Hean Studios, Herefordshire
Portrait of Alice Middleton, Sydney
Still Life for G. Chowdry, Sydney
Portrait of Gay Newlands, Sydney
|
|
|
| 1997 |
Portrait of Lord Slynn of Hadley, Luxembourg, The European Court
Portrait of Jackie Smith-Maxwell, London
Portrait of Sue Deeb, London
Portrait of Melissa Cosby, London
Portrait of Justice Michael Kirby, Canberra, The National Portrait Gallery of Australia
Portrait of Derek Freeman, Canberra, The National Portrait Gallery of Australia
Portrait of Sgt-Major Peter Prewett for Sydney, The Australian Army
Portrait of Chief Justice Michael Campbell, Sydney, NSW Compensation Court
|
|
|
| 1996 |
Portrait of Chief Justice Christopher Langsworth, Sydney, NSW Compensation Court
Portrait of Cindy Dyne, Sydney
Portrait of Tom Uren, Canberra, The National Portrait Gallery of Australia
|
|
|
| 1994 |
Portrait of Franco Belgiorno-Nettis, Sydney |
|
|
| 1993 |
Still Life for Bejamin family, Sydney |
|
|
| 1992 |
Still Life for Mansell family, Sydney |
|
|
| 1991 |
Painting for Alex Hopkins, Sydney |
|
|
| 1990 |
Stained Glass Window II for Dr Les Bokey, Sydney |
|
|
| 1989 |
Stained Glass Window I for Dr Les Bokey, Sydney |
|
|
| 1988 |
Portrait of Trevor Howells, Sydney |
| |
|
| |
 |
| 2006 |
Exhibition at the National History Museum at Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark, in conjunction with the unveiling of the portrait of Crown Princess Mary.
Private exhibition organised by Eugenie Vrisakis, agent, Sydney
|
|
|
| 2005 |
Fine Art Commissions exhibition, 20th Century Theatre, Nottting Hill, London |
|
|
| 2004 |
Self Portrait in the Metro, BP Portrait Prize, The National Portrait Gallery, London |
|
|
| 2003 |
‘Art Emmele’, Hotel de Ville, Paris |
|
|
| 2002 |
Fine Art Commissions exhibition at the Arndean Gallery, Cork street, London
Permanent acquisition of portrait of Emeritus Professor Derek Freeman, National Portrait Gallery of Australia
Permanent acquisition of portraits of Tom Uren and Justice Michael Kirby, National Portrait Gallery of Australia Solo exhibition at The Australian Embassy, The Ambassador’s Residence, Paris |
|
|
| 1998 |
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize Finalist, National Gallery of Victoria , State Library NSW |
|
|
| 1996 |
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize Finalist, National Gallery of Victoria, Sydney Opera House |
| |
|
| |
 |
| 1993-94 |
Diploma in Education (Mathematics), University of New England |
| |
|
| 1992-93 |
Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney |
| |
|
| 1989-92 |
Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts & Pure Mathematics), Sydney University |
| |
|
| 1988-96 |
Private tuition in oil painting techniques, Sydney |
|
|
|
|
|
|
