Near McMahons Point

Masterpiece@IXL Fine Art Gallery is proud to announce the coming of age of a painter whose work is gaining widespread recognition.

Richard Maurovic has overcome devastating injury to produce an impressive body of paintings depicting the man-made world of today in a style that has been praised by Jeffrey Smart, Australia’s leading ‘Precisionist’ painter:

“Richard Maurovic is a living testament to the victory of “mind over matter”.
“Despite great difficulties, he has produced an impressive body of work.
“Buon lavoro, Richard!”

The creative urge can be powerful enough to overcome almost any adversity. Monet, for example, painted masterpieces despite his failing sight; crippled by arthritis, Renoir produced his best work; and Vincent van Gogh’s life was a battle with inner demons.

A horse-riding accident in 1986 left Richard Maurovic a quadriplegic. He started painting full time in 1989; unable to hold a brush or a pencil, he straps them to his wrists to paint works of startling clarity and detail in watercolour and acrylics.

The exhibition opens at 6:00pm on Friday June 4 at the Masterpiece@IXL Fine Art Gallery and continues until Saturday June 19.

He has previously exhibited in his home town, Adelaide, and in Sydney; this is is his first Tasmanian show. He has won numerous awards: in 2006, his portrait of wheelchair athlete Suzanne Twelftree won first prize at the South Australian Royal Society for the Arts 150th anniversary exhibition and in 2008 his works were purchased for the Parliament House collection in Canberra and the prestigious Kedumba Drawing Collection in New South Wales.

He was South Australian Citizen of the Year in 1997 and in 2001 the Commonwealth Government awarded him a Centenary of Federation medal. In 2009 the City of Salisbury named him as one of its Living Legends for his contribution to art and the community.

Maurovic has been an accomplished athlete specialising in fencing and wheelchair rugby, representing Australia in both sports. He has won awards for his art, sporting achievements and civic pursuits.

Maurovic’s first book, The Meat Game, a history of the meat industry, published by Wakefield Press, was a number one selling book in South Australia in August 2007. In April 2008, The Meat Game was awarded a bronze medal in London for culinary history; a second edition is due shortly. His next book will be released in 2011.

On Saturday June 5 he will be in attendance at Masterpiece@IXL 10am—12 noon and 1pm—4pm to meet the press and interested members of the public.