Robyn Grove | Artist
Artist Statement.
Robyn Grove is an Australian artist with a passion for evocative figurative subjects. She divides her time between creating fine art and large-scale murals on the streets of Melbourne and regional Victoria. Robyn is currently working from studios in Berwick, Melbourne, and in the high country of East Gippsland at Omeo. She was previously at Dight Creative Studios in Collingwood and Juddy Roller Studios in Fitzroy.
Robyn is fascinated by form, light, anatomy and the psyche. Her contemporary realism artworks evoke the traditional aesthetic of the Old Masters, while engaging the viewer with a modern twist. Portraits of humans, animals and vanitas studies are a contemplation of life, death and the spaces between. She possesses clear insight and exquisite attention to detail which capture the physical likeness of her subject, while also providing a fascinating window to their personalities. Intimate persona backstories are often conveyed through intricate patterning and detailed wallpaper. Her palette is rich and earthy, and imparts vibrant life to her subjects.
Robyn’s studio work is typically oil paintings on wood panels, canvas or hand-made paper. Her urban art festival and street murals are painted with acrylic house paint on render and brickwork. The surfaces impart unique character to her artworks as she often uses the features of the substrates – wood grain, paper pulp or the texture below – as visual elements. Robyn exhibits in contemporary art galleries around Melbourne and interstate. She has featured in leading street and urban art festivals including Wall to Wall in Benalla and Can’t Do Tomorrow in Kensington. Three of her street art murals have featured on Stomping Ground beer cans. Works are in collections in Australia and the United States.
Robyn Grove | Artist
About the Artist.
In her studio, at urban art festivals and on the streets, Robyn Grove paints with a passion for figurative subjects that explores form, light, anatomy and the psyche.
Robyn’s diverse creative background – art, history, graphic design and education – has instilled her with great insight and sensitivity, and an exquisite attention to detail. A sense of reverence permeates her artworks whether she’s portraying human, animal or flora subjects, or working in the traditional genres of vanitas still life and memento mori. Beyond mere physical likeness, her examination of the more subtle aspects of character provides a window to the vibrance of life, personal identity, the complexities of the lived experience and the quiet dignity of death. It can push the fine line between beauty and the challenges of uncomfortable and pensive subjects.
Her fascination with human anatomy and social realism is founded in her background as alumni of The Julian Ashton Art School (The Sydney Art School), which proudly espouses the Atelier style of teaching. Intimate persona backstories are conveyed through intricate patterning and detailed wallpapers in Robyn’s artworks. These symbolic, iconographic and often lush environments combine with her evocative portrait technique to convey melancholic beauty, while at other times playfulness and wit.
Robyn’s harmonious palette of vibrant colours and earthy tones is richly expressive, and imparts a glistening sense of life to her subjects. Her use of line mixed with delicate tonal blendings of light and shade are reminiscent of the classical glazing and chiaroscuro traditions, and reveal her respect for the Old Masters. Combined with a strong sense of contemporary life and ideas, these elements engage the viewer in an intimate meeting with her subjects that pushes through the facade of outer personas to reveal inner beauty, tenderness and vulnerability.
Robyn’s studio work is typically oil paintings on wood panels, canvas or hand-made paper. Her urban and street murals are painted with acrylic house paint on large-format panels, render and brickwork. The surfaces beneath impart unique character to her artworks as she often uses the visual and textural features of the substrates as elements in the finished piece – wood grain, paper pulp or the texture below.
Robyn’s urban murals and street art pieces are painted by hand with brushes. This contrasts with the majority of the street art community who use aerosol as their medium. The intricate detail and realism that characterise her studio works is equally present in her murals. Larger works invite the viewer to approach and engage face-to-face, which is an unusual interaction in this genre where most work is created for optimal viewing at a distance. It’s fine art on the streets – a concept Robyn values as she’s committed to demystifying art and making it approachable and accessible for everyone, not just those who visit gallery exhibitions. Bringing joy into the lives of people in the urban environment is a strong catalyst for creative engagement with community. School visits and mentoring of art students is also something Robyn welcomes, with numerous primary and secondary school excursions visiting her while working on murals.
Robyn was raised in a creative environment, where drawing, ceramics, sculpture and textiles were everyday activities. At age 12 she discovered the art of Salvador Dali in a treasured family book (Max Gerard’s “Dali” published 1968), and figurative art and realism became her fascination. She pursued her art education at a mix of academic and art institutions; including Monash, Sydney and Melbourne Universities, RMIT and ultimately at Sydney’s Julian Ashton Art School where she held the William Dobell Scholarship. Following her studies Robyn worked in graphic design, with a particular interest in digital retouching and illustration. Her love for history and design brought Robyn back to the education environment, where she taught history and theory of design, and the Adobe Create Suite at CAE (Council for Adult Education) in Melbourne. This was a way of giving back to her creative community, inspired by both Mirka Mora and William Glaser who both advocated the benefits of teaching new generations of creatives. She has also guest lectured on the creative practice to VCE Visual Communications students at schools around Melbourne.
Previously based in the Fitzroy studios of Juddy Roller (the leading street art agency in Australia) and Dight Creative Studios in Collingwood, Robyn is now working between studios at Berwick and in the high country of East Gippsland at Omeo. In 2019, Robyn had her first solo show “Persona” and regularly exhibits in contemporary art galleries around Melbourne and the high country region. In 2023 Robyn was part of a curated exhibition “Gather Together” at the Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart celebrating Dark Mofo. She has featured in leading street and urban art festivals including “Wall to Wall” in Benalla and “Can’t Do Tomorrow” in Kensington. Three of her street art murals have featured on Stomping Ground beer cans. Robyn’s works are in collections in Australia and the United States.
