Leon Pericles

Born and educated in Western Australia , Leon completed fine art studies at Perth Technical College and Curtin University in Perth during the late 60's and followed with postgraduate studies at the Birmingham Polytech, UK in the early 70's.

Leon Pericles is well published, has won many awards throughout his career and held numerous solo exhibitions throughout Australia and overseas. His work is held in all Australian state galleries, The National Gallery and private collections around the world. In 1989 the Western Australian State Art Gallery honoured him with a retrospective exhibition of his prints entitled “20 years of print making”.

As a printmaker, Leon has explored the medium with particular focus on etching and collograph. His delight in the medium is evident in the wide body of work he has produced and the ongoing experimental nature of extending the parameters of printmaking.

In 1975, Leon began teaching painting and sculpture at the Nedlands Teachers College where he introduced printmaking as a unit for trainee teachers. After 7 years he moved to TAFE where he continued teaching printmaking. His work is now studied as part of the TEE art curriculum for secondary school students.

Well known for his creativity, wit and delightful sense of the absurd, Leon expresses many of his views of the Australian landscape and society through the fictional town of Widjimorphoup and in 1995 he undertook the largest ever Australian touring exhibition by a single artist with the satirical exhibition “The Tiggy Puggenheim Collection”.

Works commissioned for public spaces include a painting with construction and collage at the WA Academy of Performing Arts titled “Bouquet for the Academy” and a commission for a massive and superb 4 panel stained glass window in the chapel of the Presbyterian Ladies College in Perth in collaboration with Colin Montfort. Numerous print commissions have been undertaken.

Extensive travel within Australia has broadened Pericles' perception and understanding not only of the landscape but of the social framework that exists within the diversity of Australian urban and rural life.