SUPERHUMAN

With each brushstroke, I strive for unflinching honesty, crafting images that resonate with the sensuous immediacy of existence.

May 16, 2024
Gaffa Gallery
Join us in the gallery on Friday the 17th of May between 6-8 PM as we open Bede's first solo show SUPERHUMAN.

Artist Statement

“If a picture doesn’t relate to one's intimate life, then the artist will be lacking a necessary moral dimension, and a sense of obligation to be faithful to what he calls ‘the relevances’, to a moment that cannot be repeated.That’s why one paints the things one loves because one is aware of all the relevances, maybe, it’s the only way to get power over the the things one loves.”

Inspired by the enduring wisdom of Frank Auerbach, my creative journey is steeped in a profound appreciation for the significance of time and the legacy we leave behind. Guided by a desire to capture the essence of humanity, I eschew the grandiose in favor of the intimate and the fleeting.

In my latest series,‘Superhuman,’ I delve into the delicate interplay of personal experiences and relationships, seeking to encapsulate the raw beauty of life’s tender moments. With each brushstroke, I strive for unflinching honesty, crafting images that resonate with the sensuous immediacy of existence.

Through the portrayal of friends, lovers, and cherished mementos,‘Superhuman’ becomes a testament to the complexities of human emotion. Taking the idea of a Superhuman in popular culture - the comic book hero, with exceptional abilities or powers - this series seeks to invert the idea, rejecting notions of the transcendental or devine, and aims to capture the moments that make us all too human.

It is my hope that these works serve as mirrors, reflecting the shared experiences that unite us all and celebrating the inherent beauty of our collective humanity.

Artist Bio

Bede Ireland, a Sydney-based painter, is a graduate of the Australian Catholic University, he has showcased his work in numerous group exhibitions throughout Sydney. His artistic journey is deeply rooted in documentation, unfolding through an autobiographical lens.


Focusing on the intricacies of everyday experiences and intimate relationships, Ireland's practice delves into the nuances of human connection. With a steadfast commitment to creating art that evokes introspection, his work prompts viewers to explore the depths of their own emotional landscapes.

Bede Ireland, The Painters Mother, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 120 x 150 cm.

Bede Ireland, 700 feel (After Ladstreet) , Oil on Canvas, 60 x 60 cm.

Bede Ireland, Megan, Oil on Canvas, 120 x 150 cm

Bede Ireland, Self Portrait, Oil on Canvas, 120 x 150 cm

May 16, 2024

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