Biography

James Willebrant graduated from The National Art School in 1972, being awarded the National Art School Painting Prize in 1970 and 1972 respectively. While at The National Art School Willebrant had already established his unique vision and as his work continued to evolve, was encouraged in 1973, by fellow artist and mentor, Charles Blackman to mount his first exhibition at The Philip Bacon Galleries in Brisbane.

This seminal exhibition was enthusiastically received by the public and began a successful career as a professional painter for Willebrant which has spanned 36 years and over 70 exhibitions throughout Australia and overseas. His work features in major private, public and corporate collections [including: The National Galleries of Victoria, NSW and Queensland, Many Regional Galleries, Parliament House Collection, Australia- Japan Trade Commission, Sydney Theatre Company, Qantas, Australian Embassy [Tokyo], Artbank, Australian Stock Exchange, The Deutsche Bank and several Major University Collections].

In the mid 70’s James Willebrant became part of the exciting evolution of the Art Scene in Australia, showing his work at the Australian Galleries in Melbourne and with the Kym Bonython Gallery in Sydney. These two galleries in particular were at the forefront of the revolution that supported a new generation of Australian Artists and captured the imagination of the Australian public. Willebrant and contemporaries such as Brett Whiteley, Tim Storrier, John Coburn, Martin Sharpe and John Firth-Smith continued to redefine, explore and celebrate the Australian Spirit/Experience as their precursors such as Streeton, Roberts, Dobell, Drysdale, and Nolan had done.

Like many Australian artists Willebrant uses the Australian landscape as an inspirational springboard for his exploration and celebration of the Human Condition. His idiosyncratic response has seen the development of a style and vision, the uniqueness of which is immediately recognisable. He has nurtured and honed this original vision over many years; refusing to compromise it’s integrity, and above all respecting the work and the life of each painting.

His style has been variously labelled, Surreal, Naive, Pop Art, and even Existential...but no label can really encompass or describe the subtleties of this artists’ unique work. He paints the Australian landscape and captures it’s amazing light. He celebrates nostalgic Australian popular culture..... He paints the human form in this landscape and as we look at his “everyman-everywoman” figures, caught in a particular moment of ‘being’, we are brought back to some personal emotion, experience or memory.....Such a response needs no label or critical thesis...It just is..the essence of Good Art. It provokes, it stimulates, and it celebrates. It defines something about our essence, which is beyond words.

In 1986 James Willebrant moved from Balmain to The Blue Mountains, seeking new horizons, both literally and figuratively... The physically beautiful and mentally challenging atmosphere of the mountains saw his work expand both thematically and stylistically......And in the emerging artistic renaissance of The Blue Mountains he has been able to relive some of the excitement of the heady days of the Sydney Art Scene of the early 70’s.

In 2001 he purchased a country property West of the mountains at Dark Corner and established a second studio there… The new environment of ‘The Farm’ has influenced the evolution of his style and vision. His exhibition in 2008 entitled “Paintings from The Dark Corner” at The Soho Galleries Sydney saw the culmination and integration of the Classic Willebrant themes and these new influences.