Hot on the heels of a hugely successful exhibition earlier this year at Goya Galleries in Melbourne, followed by a whirlwind visit to Rome, comes an exhibition of new work by Dean Home.

Dean’s paintings have been influenced by the great masters of art for many years, drawing inspiration from Caravaggio, Raphael and Velazquez. However he produces a style completely unique and instantly recognisable as his own. In recent years his investigations into the work of Caravaggio have resulted in large studies of fruit, sometimes drawn literally from famous paintings, but most often from still life installations that he sets up himself. These fruit studies exude the same intensity and drama that he applies to his studies of the human figure. Strong contrasts of light and shade combine with sensual overtones, rich colours, shifting fields of vision, and a certain darkness of the soul.

Included in this exhibition will be some of the figure studies for which Dean is becoming well known. He interprets the many facets of the human psyche in dark swathes of paint, complemented with rich colour or gold leaf. Dean often uses the male nude as a classic vehicle to portray human drama and inner turmoil, drawing inspiration from the heroic and classic nudes of the past.

Dean was born in Busselton, studied at Curtin University and now lives in Melbourne. He will be coming to Perth to promote his exhibition at The Church Gallery and will reside in the artist in residence accommodation at the rear of the gallery for two weeks.

This exhibition is proudly presented by The Church Gallery in conjunction with Jan Hart from Ferguson Hart Estate. Jan was previously the Director of New Collectables Gallery in East Fremantle and now manages Ferguson Hart Estate, in Ferguson Valley Dardanup, purveyors of fine wines and fine art.

*prices valid 2002