John Honeywill

Celebrated Meanjin/Brisbane-based contemporary painter and master of the still life John Honeywill returns to Michael Reid Sydney in August for his first solo exhibition in more than two years. Brought to life with meticulous precision and masterly control of light and mood, Honeywill’s paintings set everyday objects within deceptively simple compositions that appear quietly radiant and seemingly lit from within.

His acclaimed practice is propelled by a curious, almost ineffable affinity for the objects of his gaze – unsentimental yet emotionally resonant subjects that draw the eye with the quiet authority of their presence. From sugary sweets to elegant vessels enclosing fruit or delicately unfolding flowers, these still-life elements exude a serene stillness and subtle alchemy as they coalesce and converse in graceful, mesmerising arrangements.

By suspending these objects against ambiguous, softly luminescent planes – at times subtly reflective, at others gauze-like and atmospheric – and rendering them with astonishing, ultra-precise detail, Honeywill heightens their sense of poise and intimacy. His paintings stand as a paean to the interplay between an object’s presence and the artist’s perception – the organising idea behind his 2023 monograph, Presence and Perception.

To sign up for first access to the artist’s forthcoming series, please email dean@michaelreid.com.au