16/11/2024
Fox Galleries is honoured to announce the representation of celebrated Melbourne artist, Darren McDonald.
McDonald's work is held in major collections, including the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, which holds his portrait of Adam Cullen. He has been a finalist in the Doug Moran Prize and the Benalla N**e Art Prize, and he won the prestigious Brisbane Portrait Prize in 2022 with a portrait of his mother.
Renowned for his evocative and psychologically charged works, McDonald’s practice is distinguished by its striking simplicity and emotional resonance. His subjects, often depicted on raw board or linen, are laid bare - vulnerable yet dynamic - drawing the viewer into a space of tension and introspection.
Over a career spanning more than two decades, McDonald has painted a wide range of subjects, from animals to iconic figures such as Mick Jagger, to deeply personal portraits of friends and collaborators. His works often centre around the eyes of his subjects, which he believes are the key to conveying their emotional and psychological states.
'A Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night' highlights McDonald’s signatory approach towards his subjects - one that is absent of extraneous detail, igniting an intense focus on the subject. As a result, the interplay of vulnerability and vitality takes centre stage. This work embodies McDonald’s distinctive ability to channel a subject's character through minimalist yet impactful forms.
Darren McDonald
'A Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night' (2017)
Oil on board
40cm by 50cm
For enquiries on 'A Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night' and other works of McDonald's, please contact [email protected]
