Collection: Leon Pericles

Leon Pericles Fine Artist, Master Printmaker, Painter and Sculptor.

Australian painter and master printmaker Leon Pericles has held more than 160 solo exhibitions and won national and international acclaim over a career spanning more than 50 years.

Showing in both the National and State Galleries of Australia, Mr Pericles’ attracted thousands to a colossal retrospective exhibition of more than 500 artworks in 2018. A mere selection of his archive, it highlighted the artist’s creativity and imagination which, combined with impressive technical skills, has cemented him as one of Australia’s most prominent and prolific artists.

Although best known for his paintings, prints and collages, he has moved smoothly between mediums including sculpting and designing and from the abstract to realism. However, the artist who spent his formative years in Meekatharra has been largely inspired by his love for the Australian outback and his imaginary town of Widji (Widjimorohup).

Pericles’s witty views of Australia combined with his artistic talent have resulted in work which engages and challenges the viewer. Sometimes narrative, often whimsical and frequently absurd, his ruminations on society and our unique landscape have also made us more aware of the ideas that shape us as West Australians.

Mr Pericles’ East Perth and Margaret River studios have long been a haven to art lovers and students to learn about his creative processes. His love of engaging community is evident in his gift of drawing people together for a greater creative good and, as a long-time patron of the Printmakers Association of WA, mentoring countless emerging and established artists.

A natural-born teacher, Mr Pericles lectured art in his early career and can be credited with introducing the ‘fine arts’ to Nedlands Teachers College (now ECU) and was part of the first fine art-based wave of teachers in secondary schools and TAFE. Having lived in Mt Lawley for 50 years, Mr Pericles has played an active role in effecting profound neighbourhood change such as transforming Ron Stone Park and lake into a sanctuary for wildlife and families.

He continues his activism today advocating for more community spaces, environmental responsibility and opportunities for artists to engage in sustainable careers. In 2000, Mr Pericles established The Dido Fellowship in honour of his late father.

Administered by universities, it gave rent-free accommodation, food, materials and equipment to a graduating student with access to invaluable professional support from the Pericles Studio. In 2019, the ABC documentary Storm in a Teacup followed Mr Pericles and his wife and business manager, Moira, as they coped with the irreparable changes brought about by her Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Since then, Mr Pericles has raised more than 100k for the Australian Alzheimer’s Research Foundation and Dementia Australia and continues to fundraise for these vital organisations.