Bruce Armstrong is widely regarded as Australia’s most loved sculptor. His iconic creatures grace our public places across Australia. For those lucky enough to privately own an Armstrong, they soon realize the power of his work and the enduring pleasure that comes for living with their powerful presence.
I was 18 years old when I first met Bruce, he was already a rock star in the art world and his large red gum carved Guardians were proudly protecting the National Gallery of Victoria in St Kilda Road. I was a first-year sculpture student, and he was in his first year of teaching. To be honest for the first week I thought he was nosy 3rd year student, always asking us questions and just hanging around. As his confidence grew and my understanding of how art school worked I soon realized that we were very lucky to have Bruce as a lecturer. My early love and influence of Pre-Colombian art came from Bruce, he taught us how to use chainsaws, chisels and files. His love of materials, form and different cultures was infectious.
The years passed and post art school I was lucky enough to share a studio with Bruce among many of Australia’s best Sculptors at Caravan Sculptors in Richmond. Watching Bruce work on his massive timbers, sitting around discussing sculpture at the end of the day was all a part of the profound influence he had on many of us. We have exhibited many times alongside each other and when I started my side hustle of curation Bruce was always the first to say yes to a project I was leading. When we decided to open & Gallery in Sorrento in 2020, signing the lease two days before the second covid lock down, it was Bruce I approached for the first exhibition. I will always be grateful to Bruce and the faith he has showed in us and the Gallery. He certainly helps us make a stand, that we weren’t just another seaside tourist gallery.
Thus it only seems fitting that Bruce Armstrong is our last exhibiting artist at our Ocean Beach Road address. At the end of July we move to 21 Morce Ave Sorrento, a much larger space that will give us three exhibiting galleries and will launch in September. Exciting times ahead.
However, in the meantime enjoy Little Bull, a combination of new carvings, bronzes, drawings, and a mix of older paintings on timber offcuts and reclaimed materials. It is indeed a special exhibition.
Within this catalogue are works showing at & Gallery and a selection of “by commission only” sculptures, followed by works currently on exhibition at the InterContinental Hotel in Sorrento.
Be sure to visit us both at the gallery and at the InterContinental.
Julie Collins – Fan, Friend, Sculptor and Director of & Gallery Bruce Armstrong
1. Bear and Ribbons
Works on Paper
78 x 59cm
$ 5,000
2. Waiting
Bronze on Wood Plinth Edition 1/10
19 x 25 x 9cm
$ 1,500
3. Gatherer
Work on paper
53 x 60cm
$ 5,000
4. Precipice
Works on paper
78 x 59cm
$ 5,000
5. Waving Bear
Bronze Edition 1/5
30 x 20 x 10cm
$ 25,000
6. Black Bird
Work on Paper
70 x 56 cm
$ 4,000
7. Channelling
Works on paper
67 x 58cm
$3,500
8. Bast
Bronze on Timber Plinth Edition 2/6
67 x 20 x 13cm $ 40,000
9. Bird Holding Man
Bronze on Timber Plinth
Edotion 1/3
134 x 65 x 65cm
$120,000
Nice to Meet you
Paint and wood
$250
Trophy
Paint and wood
$250
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
Number 10 - 18 framed timber drawings
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
Beastie Paint and wood
Running Dog Paint and wood
Small Black Dog Paint and wood
The Tower Paint and wood
Walking Tall
Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
Pyramid Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
Fish in the City
Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
Taking a Stance Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
$250
$250
$250
Box Dog Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
Tiny Self Portait Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
Arrrrrrhhh Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
Lady Liberty Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
Look away
Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
Look at me
Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
Small Black Dog
Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
Square Cat
Paint and wood
17.5 x 12.5 x 3cm
$250
11. Crounching Bear
Bronze on Wooden Plinth
Edition 2/5
1312 x 34 x 36cm
$60,000
12. What’s in your paw?
Work on Paper
62 x 46cm
$ 3,600
13. Eagle Panel
Paint on carved wood
120 x 70 x 11cm
$ 40,000
14. Bark Bear
Bronze on Timber Plinth
80 x 75 x 19cm
$35,000
15. Bear Panel
Paint on carved wood
112 x 86 x 11cm
$ 40,000
16. Once was Marble Mouse Bronze Edition 1/5 42 x 15 x 23cm
$30,000
17. Horse Head
Work on Paper
51 x 57cm
$4,000
18. Cat with Broken Leg
Bronze Edition 1/5 10 x 5 x 10cm
$ 5,000
19. Balancing
Bronze Edition 1/5
18 x 9 x 9cm
$7,500
20. Plane Cat
Bronze Edition 1/5
11 x 5 x 18cm
$6,500
21. Prey
21. Work on Paper
76 x 56cm
$ 4,000
22. The Bird Bronze Edition 1/5
23 x 46 x 10cm
$ 25,000
23. Little Bull
Bronze on Timber Plinth edition 1/7
126 x 24 x 22cm
$20,000
24. Tiny Eagle
Bronze on Timber Plinth edition 3/5
168 x 14 x 22cm
$ 25,000
25. Face Paint on reclaimed timber
18.5 x 16.5cm
$1,000
26. On a Pedestal Paint on reclaimed timber 22 x 8cm $750
27. Lost and Found
Paint on reclaimed timber
14 x 25.5cm
$2,000
28. Inquisitive Bear
Paint on reclaimed timber
16 x 14.5cm
$2,000
29. Capture Paint on reclaimed timber 17.5 x 11cm $1,500
30. The Fighter Paint on reclaimed timber
33 x 35 x 4.5cm
$ 5,000
31. Stigmata
Paint on reclaimed timber
15 x 9.5cm
$750
32. The Champ Paint on reclaimed timber
13.5 x 9.5cm
$500
33. Judge
Paint, pen on reclaimed timber
15.5 x 9cm
$750
34. Scary Bear
Paint on reclaimed timber 10 x 10cm
$500
35. Sliver Dancer
Paint on reclaimed timber
14 x 11cm
$500
36. Creature Paint on reclaimed wood 20 x 9cm $500
37. Chef Paint on reclaimed timber 30 x 9cm $750
38. Snake Paint on reclaimed timber
16.5 x 33.5cm
$1,000
40. Red Bear Dancing Paint and wood
12.5 x 17.5 x 3cm $500
39. Red Bear Paint and wood
12.5 x 17.5 x 3cm $500
41. Resting Time
Paint and wood
17 x 22 x 4.5cm
$500
42. Elephant Paint, pen on reclaimed tile 19 x 11cm
$750
43. Beyond Paint on reclaimed plywood 23 x 24cm $1,000
44. My View
Paint on reclaimed timber
13.5 x 32cm $1,000
45. Horizon Paint on reclaimed timber 15 x 22cm $1,000
46. Five Birds
Paint on reclaimed timber
15.5 x16cm
$750
Smaller Eagle
Black Dog ( Bear )
Bronze on Timber Plinth
Edition 2/5
206 x 44 x 45cm
$80,000
Cat Painting on timber
69 x 71 x 22cm
$25,000
Decoy
Timber, paint
24 x 34 x 65cm
$25,000
Hare BronzeEdition 1/ 7
46 x 11 x 11cm
$25,000
36 x 15 x 15cm
Untitled (Hugging)
Bronze on redgum base. Unique
10 x 9 x 15cm
$4,000
Untitled (Little Bear)
Bronze on redgum base
13 x 10 x 9cm $4,000
Babar
Bronze on wooden base
57 x 26 x 22cm
$20,000
Watching Paint on plywood
143 x 96.5cm $20,000
Snowy
Pastel and charcoal on paper
72.5 x 52cm
$5,500
Cat
Pastel, ink, shellac on paper
63 x 81cm
$4,000
Head
Pastel and charcoal on paper
69.5 x 42.5cm
3,600
$5,500
