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 $120,000Nice 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 3cm17.5 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 woodWalking 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 $250Look 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