Bruce Reid

Bruce Reid was seven years old when he went to a museum for the first time. He grew up in New Zealand, in a little rural community, with no art gallery, and where the closest thing to an art program in school was woodworking. The museum was a neoclassical behemoth, carved out of marble and granite, and contained ancient Greek art as well as traditional Māori art, and seeing this was an inspirational moment for him. However, Bruce wouldn't learn about art galleries until he was in his late teens. He found himself standing in front of a painting by Colin McCahon called I Am, and witnessing the three letters, the way McCahon had painted the sky and the scale of the letters, and it spoke to him.

It was these experiences that informed Bruce's art philosophy: When going to an art gallery, it isn't necessary to enjoy every painting there, or even to look at every one, the most important thing is to find the one that talks to you. This communication between the artist, the art, and the viewer is central to the works that Bruce creates today.

Bruce worked as a landscape architect for 36 years, due to a love of gardening and the natural world, and through the visual, graphic component to his work, he discovered printmaking. He went to Edith Cowan University to do an Arts degree over the course of ten years. Bruce enjoyed being in an environment where he could talk about art, design, and the creative process, and others would listen and understand.

Bruce enjoys volunteering at Inglewood Art Hub in the gallery, as it allows members of the community to come in and discuss the parts of their lives that they may not have an opportunity to express elsewhere. He believes the Hub fills a niche in the broader community, and makes a rich social environment.

While Bruce doesn't put a specifically defined message in his work, this does not mean he doesn't communicate through his art. However, he isn't trying to communicate with the wider population; in fact, he's only trying to talk to himself, and maybe a few others. Ultimately, he wants others to engage with his work because, as he says, "It's not wallpaper." He believes that art is a more gentle way of communicating with other people and the world in general.

The creative process that Bruce follows is one of constant experimentation. He believes that making art is a doing thing, something which involves being surprised at what you make, and learning from the world around you, as well as from different artists, including musicians. He feels that instead of idolising a single artist, artists should find their own voice through a variety of influences, so what they produce is an expression of their mind and inner selves.

Connect with Bruce:

Instagram: @reidiochre.studio