Anthony Lister, painter and installation artist, was born in Brisbane in 1979. As of 2003, he has been living and working in Brooklyn, New York. In 2001 Lister finished a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Queensland College of the Arts. In addition to completing a Mentorship with Max Gimblett in New York in 2002, he underwent a residency at Blender Studio, Melbourne, in 2004. Amongst his most notable achievements, Lister has helped pioneer the stencil and street art movement in Brisbane.
Lister’s paintings and installations draw immediately from his surroundings; in effect, his works are parodies of modern life. His influences are varied and include graffiti, stencilling, installations, Pop art, comic book imagery, cartoons and his recollections of childhood. Lister does not separate art from social meaning. His imagery can be read as having a political and social message that engages with good versus evil, right versus wrong, and Batman versus the Joker. Characterised by subject matter painted on large areas of monochromatic ground, Lister’s work reveals a tension between figuration and abstraction, which is evident in his series of Super-heroes. These subjects indicate concern for how the human condition will evolve within the electronic and communications culture and the ever-changing, recyclable environment of today.
Lister has presented a number of solo exhibitions, including 'Memories not included’ (2010) at Chalk Horse Gallery, Sydney; 'Art Miami’ (2007) at New Image Art Gallery, L.A.; 'Super is as Super Does’ (2007) and 'Supermarket’ (2006) at Metro 5 Gallery, Melbourne; 'Cracker got snapped by the Pops’ (2007) at Upper Playground, San Francisco; 'Rest on Nails’ (2007) at Lyons Weir Gallery, New York; 'Saturday Morning Prime Time’ (2006) at Spectrum Gallery, London; 'Backdoor Confessional’ (2006) at Harrison Galleries, Sydney; and 'Plastic Mechanical’ (2005) at Galleries Schubert, Gold Coast.
He has also participated in the following group shows: Studio 14 (2005) in Rome; 'Prime’ (2004) at Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane; 'White Lies Beneath’ (2003) at the Helen Gory Gallery, Melbourne; 'dis/place/meant’ (2002) at Fox Galleries, Brisbane; 'Play it forward’ (2001) at the Queensland College of Art Graduate Exhibition; and 'Young Bux’ (2000) at Campbell Mahoney, Brisbane. In addition, Lister has been involved in a number of public art projects such as the Fred Perry Skate Park, Brisbane, in 2003 and Switch Boxes, Brisbane City, between 1999 and 2003.
Lister was a finalist of the Prometheus Art Award in 2005, the Metro 5 Art Award in 2004 and 2005 and the Churchie Art Award in 2004. He also received a Highly Commended prize in The Courier Mail Art Award in 2004. In 2003, he was a finalist of both the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship Exhibition and the Theiss Art Prize. Lister’s works are held in many collections across Australia, including the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; Brisbane Grammar School; Brand & Slater Architects; and BHP.
- Writers:
- Chalk Horse Gallery
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
