Joel Rea is an Australian award-winning artist renowned for his surreal and allegorical oil paintings. His work masterfully blends the precision of hyperrealism and photorealism, resulting in a distinctive visual language that is both technically impressive and emotionally resonant. Through this fusion of styles, Rea has developed a unique artistic voice that explores themes of social consciousness and deep personal introspection.
Inspired by the wonders of the natural world and the mysteries of the cosmos, Rea’s paintings delve into the profound intricacies of the human condition. His narratives reflect on the enduring struggle of the inner self and humanity’s relentless drive to endure and evolve. With a focus on the sublime, his meticulously crafted imagery evokes powerful emotional responses, merging contemporary symbolism with timeless aesthetic beauty.
Recurring motifs in Rea’s work include self-portraits, tigers, dogs, rays of sunlight piercing through clouds, and immense, crashing waves—each element often rooted in his childhood experiences along Australia’s wild and unpredictable coastline.
In an article for the Huffington Post, Brandon Kralik writes – ‘Representational painting today is not what it used to be and cannot be dismissed as longing for the past or harkening back to the Romantics of the 19th century. Although Rea’s work shares an aesthetic with Romanticism this is not about going back at all. They take from the past and move us toward tomorrow. He calls himself a Contemporary Surrealist Painter. Wikipedia describes Contemporary art as having developed from Postmodern art and although Joel Rea is very much alive and is dealing with issues of our present time, his work is far removed from the multimedia and purely conceptual work that has come to define Postmodernism and much of what is referred to as Contemporary art. To me Rea’s work moves in separate direction, one that is reconstructive, or Post Contemporary, as it places importance on craftsmanship and empathy. One thing for certain is that Rea’s paintings speak in a language where such words are not needed at all. There need be no artspeak to accompany them, to tell the viewer what is happening. The paintings speak for themselves.’
Joel Rea has been represented by numerous commercial galleries and has exhibited his work in institutions, art prizes, universities, and galleries across Australia, London, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Singapore, and Berlin. Rea has been hung in group exhibitions along side notable Australian artists; Jeffrey Smart, Eugene Von Guerard, James Gleeson and notable international artists; Shepard Fairy, Ron English, and Mark Ryden.
Rea has received significant recognition for his work, winning the 2013 Maritime Art Award in Melbourne, the People’s Choice Award at the 2014 Black Swan Portrait Prize in Perth, and the People’s Choice Award at the 2019 Brisbane Portrait Prize. He has also been a finalist in several prestigious art competitions, including the Sulman Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Doug Moran Portrait Prize and Mosman Art Prize in Sydney, as well as the Fleurieu Art Prize in Adelaide.
CV
Joel Rea
b.1983
Lives and works on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Studies
2001 – 2003
Bachelor of Fine Art Graduate, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University
AWARDS & PRIZES
2021 Finalist, Lester Prize for Portraiture, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
2020 Awarded the Vice Chancellor Portrait Commission for The University of Sydney permanent collection.
2020 Finalist, Brisbane Portrait Prize, The Powerhouse, Brisbane
2019 Winner, Brisbane Portrait Prize, People’s Choice Award, The Powerhouse, Brisbane
2018 Finalist, Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney
2016 Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Juniper Hall, Sydney
2016 Finalist, Mosman Art Prize, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney
2014 Winner, Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, People’s Choice Award, Perth
2014 Finalist, Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
2013 Winner, ANL Maritime Art Award, Melbourne
2013 Finalist, Fleurieu Art Prize, Adelaide
2013 Finalist, Salon Des Refuses, Archibald Prize, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2013 Finalist, Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, Perth
2012 Semi-Finalist, Moran Portrait Prize, Sydney
2012 Highly Commended, Clayton Utz Art Award, Brisbane
2011 Highly Commended, Metro Art Award, Metro Gallery, Melbourne
2011 Winner, Gold Coast Rotary Young Achiever in Vocational Excellence, Fine Art
2011 Finalist, Prometheus Visual Art Award, Gold Coast
2011 Finalist, Clayton Utz Art Award, Brisbane
2010 Finalist, Metro Art Award, Metro Gallery, Melbourne
2010 Finalist, Redland Gallery Art Award, Biennial Contemporary Painting Competition, Cleveland
2003 Awarded Golden Key International Honour Society membership for outstanding scholastic achievement and excellence.
2003 Granted the Griffith Award for academic excellence in Fine Art, Queensland College of Art.
EXHIBITIONS
2022
HOFA London, House of Fine Art Group Exhibition, Mayfair, London, UK
2021
Lester Prize for Portraiture, Finalists Exhibition, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
HOFA London, House of Fine Art Group Exhibition, Mayfair, London, UK
2020
Brisbane Portrait Prize, Finalists Exhibition, The Powerhouse, Brisbane
Lethbridge 20000, Finalists Exhibition, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
HOFA London, House of Fine Art Group Exhibition, Mayfair, London, UK
Art Wynwood, House if Fine Art Group Exhibition, Florida, USA
LA Art Show, House of Fine Art Group Exhibition, Los Angeles, USA
Antipodes, Beinart Gallery Group Exhibition, Melbourne
2019
Context Art Miami, House of Fine Art Group Exhibition, Miami, USA
Gaia – A Future Utopia, Beautiful Bizarre Group Exhibition, Urban Arts, Berlin, Germany
Brisbane Portrait Prize, Finalists Exhibition, The Powerhouse, Brisbane
2018
Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Finalists Exhibition, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney
Director’s Choice, Group Exhibition, Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane
Spring Preview, Group Exhibition, The Unit London Gallery, London, UK
LA Art Show, Group Exhibition, Jonathan LeVine Projects, Los Angeles, USA
2017
Solo Exhibition, Outsider, Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane
Oceans Imaginaries, Group Exhibition, RMIT University Gallery, Melbourne
ArtStage Singapore, Mitchell Fine Art Group Exhibition, Singapore
Welcome To New Jersey, Inaugural Group Exhibition Opening Jonathan LeVine Projects, USA
Moran Portrait Prize Finalists Exhibition, Touring Australia Exhibition, Gosford & Canberra
Iconoclasts, Group Exhibition, Umbrella Contemporary Arts, Townsville, Queensland
Iconoclasts, Group Exhibition, Kick Arts Contemporary, Cairns, Queensland
2016
Juxtapoz Clubhouse, Jonathan LeVine Gallery Group Show, Miami, USA.
Director’s Choice, Group Exhibition, Mitchell Fine Art, Brisbane
Mosman Prize, Finalists Exhibition, Sydney
Moran Portrait Prize, Finalists Exhibition, Juniper Hall, Sydney
2015
Solo Exhibition, Beasts of Arcadia, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, USA
Paintguide, International Instagram Group Exhibition, The Unit Gallery, Soho, London, UK
Cutback: Surfing Through Art, Group Exhibition, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Gold Coast
2014
Solo Exhibition, Eternal, Gallery One, Gold Coast
Conquest of Space: Science Fiction and Contemporary Art, COFA, UNSW, Sydney
Based on Actual Events, Group Exhibition, Jonathan Levine Gallery, New York, USA
Sulman Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Solo Exhibition, The Other Side, Gallery One, Melbourne Art Fair, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
Black Swan Portrait Prize, Finalists Exhibition, Perth
2013
Solo Exhibition, Beneath the Blue, Gallery One, Gold Coast
Another Time Another Place, Group Exhibition, Metro Gallery, Melbourne
Fleurieu Art Prize, Finalists Exhibition, Adelaide
Maritime Art Award, Finalists Exhibition, Melbourne
Black Swan Portrait Prize, Finalists Exhibition, Perth
Salon Des Refuses, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney
2012
Solo Exhibition, Existence of Reality, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
Art on Art, Group Exhibition, Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Gold Coast
San Diego Contemporary Art Fair, California, USA
Clayton Utz Art Award Finalists Exhibition, Brisbane
Art Melbourne 2012, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
2011
Metro Gallery Art Award Finalists Exhibition, Melbourne
Art Melbourne11, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
Clayton Utz Art Award Finalists Exhibition, Brisbane
Lethbridge 10000 Art Award Finalists Exhibition, Brisbane
Prometheus Visual Art Award Finalists Exhibition, Gold Coast
2010
Solo Exhibition, Monuments and Miniatures, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
Art Sydney10, Royal Hall of Industries, Sydney
Redland Gallery Art Award, Biennial Contemporary Painting Competition, Finalists Exhibition, Cleveland
Metro Art Award Finalists Exhibition, Metro Gallery, Melbourne
Group Exhibition, Astras Galleries, Gold Coast
Netanya Resort Conference, Hastings Street, Noosa
2009
Solo Exhibition, The Balance Divine, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
New Paintings, Coda Gallery, Palm Desert, California, USA
Art Melbourne 09, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
New Paintings, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
2008
Art Sydney08, Royal Hall of Industries, Sydney
Art Brisbane08, Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane
Art Melbourne08, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
New Paintings, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
2007
Solo Exhibition, Where There’s Fire, Art Melbourne07, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
Art Sydney07, Royal Hall of Industries, Sydney
New Paintings, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
Art Melbourne07, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
2006
Solo Exhibition, High Fidelity, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
Sajen Legal Art Show, Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast
Art Melbourne06, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
New Paintings, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
St. Margaret’s Art Show, Ascot, Brisbane
Art Sydney06, Royal Hall of Industries, Sydney
2005
Brisbane Art Fair, Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane
Art Sydney05, Royal Hall of Industries, Sydney
Melbourne Affordable Art Show, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
New Paintings, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
2004
Mentorship, Brett Lethbridge, Brisbane
Departure Lounge Group Exhibition, Gold Coast
Border Art Prize, Tweed River Art Gallery
TRAVEL/GALLERY RESEARCH
2008
Musee Du Louvre / Musee d’Orsay, Paris, France. The National Gallery, London, England. Guggenheim, Venice, Italy. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Uffizi Gallery / Galleria Nazionale del Bargello, Florence, Italy. Dali Museum, Barcelona, Spain.
2015
United States, New York City Residency and Solo Exhibition.