ART
“I am and always will be, incredibly appreciative of the patrons who in a vast ocean of magnificent art, have chosen to support mine. Grateful, gracious thanks.”
SHEEP PAINTINGS
A commission of 226 paintings for the Absolut hotel in Ireland, kick-started the success of the “sheep” paintings. Following on from that success, the quirky paintings using popular jargon started to flock off. (Incidentally, galleries at the time told me “people would never buy paintings with words on them.”)
Exhibitions followed in New Zealand (they like sheep there) Ireland, Italy and England. As a result, the paintings now hang in collections worldwide. I then developed the paintings into a range of merchandise called Art for Ewe.
WILDLIFE PAINTINGS
I started exploring the African bush, travelling widely in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. I fell in love with the bush and photography writing about the animals I’d experienced.
Finding an old book of African symbols in a dusty secondhand bookstore, I began to incorporate the symbols into my work. I believe art brings with it a message into the environment where its hung. I would like this message to be one of hope and inherent goodness as depicted in the symbols. Almost certainly the painting itself is embodying this cry for hope – a voice in the wilderness/wildness.
OTHER PAINTINGS
A reoccurring theme in my work is a play on words and use of popular jargon. My first solo exhibition at the AVA was entitled “Palindromes and Popular Icons.” This humorous art, allows the viewer to examine many of the more absurd aspects of contemporary life. Above all it allows us to laugh at life.
As a result of my passion for animals, over the course of my 20+ year career, I have painted cats, wildlife, dogs, cows and naturally, sheep.
Galleries representing Ann Gadd art:
- Franschhoek Art House – Franschhoek
- Cape Gallery – Church Street Cape Town
- Dante Art Gallery – Somerset West
- Art @ Constantia – Groot Constantia
- Robertson Art Gallery – Robertson
- Blou Donki Gallery – Clarens FS
- Alice Art Gallery – Gauteng
- Katherine Wood Fine Art – Thesen Island, Knysna
New available work:
Just completed this lion – the first lion I’ve done.
Size 100 x 80cm
I’ve really enjoyed this looser direction. Above all, I wanted to examine commercialism versus tribalism in Africa. This painting is on exhibition at the Cape Gallery as part of their Wildlife Exhibition.
Size 120 x90cm
Hmm… what can I say about this other than yes, I have found brilliance at just this point. Most noteworthy between the Merlot and the very drinkable Shiraz.
Size 120 x90cm
