CELIA NEUBAUER +
MITCHELL MCAULEY
Landscapes from the Edge
6 November - 3 December 2013
Opening reception: Wednesday 6 November 2013,6 - 9 pm
Amelia Johnson Contemporary is proud to present Landscapes from the Edge, an exhibition
of new paintings by Canadian artist Celia Neubauer and Australian artist Mitchell McAuley.
The paintings feature landscapes abstracted and reduced to brushstrokes, vivid colour
and geometric forms inspired by the traditional landscapes of Italy and Asia. This exhibition
examines how traditional landscape painting has evolved and highlights these two artists’
diverse interpretations of the contemporary landscape.
Neubauer’s paintings are inspired by traditional Chinese landscapes and gardens interrupted
by unfolding forms creating a palpable tension between the loose brushwork of the landscapes
and the more calculated approach to the abstract forms that break their surfaces. As a
contemporary take on collage, these works pair a richly historical painting tradition with digitally
generated forms, creating singular compositions that continually move the viewer around and
between these two worlds.
Inspired by the streets of northern Italy where the artist lives with his family, McAuley’s work
comes from saturating himself in the lively colours of Bologna and the shadows and light that fill
the streets. Living in a city for the first time, he became acutely aware of the amount of rubbish,
especially cardboard in the streets, and decided to recycle it as a canvas. The colours of the
cardboard determine the base hues, and the edges the lines of the city. McAuley’s passion for
landscape culminated in 1999, when he purchased a farmstead in the outback of northern Victoria
and began dividing his time between the country and Melbourne, Australia. The paintings
continue his explorations of the Italian landscape, incorporating the stunning blend of colours
and textures that McAuley’s work is celebrated for.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Celia Neubauer (b. 1962 Canada)
received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University
in 1986, and Higher Diploma in 1990 from
the Slade School of Fine Art in London, England.
Neubauer has taught at the University of
Toronto's School of Architecture and Landscape
Architecture, the University of Guelph, and as a
sessional instructor of painting and drawing at
Queen's University in Kingston. Since 1986 to
date, Celia has mounted 14 solo exhibitions in
various venues in Canada; and various group
exhibitions internationally. Her works are in the
collection of BMO Financial Group, Donovan
Collection, Four Seasons, Hewlett-Packard
Canada Ltd, Ontario Municipal Employees
Retirement Board, Tory Tory DesLauriers & Binnington,
Toronto, and Trump Towers, Miami.
Celia Neubauer lives and works in Toronto,
Canada.
Mitchell McAuley (b. 1962 Australia)
received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from
Victoria College of the Arts in 1984. McAuley has traveled extensively throughout Australia
and Europe as well as Antarctica and the United States. His works have been
exhibited internationally and are found in the collections of AON Worldwide Insurance,
Dresdner Bank, Nelson Wheeler, Societe Generale, Suncorp and the Parliment House
of Canberra, Australia.