In 1994 he took his first foray into the life of a full time artist with a three-month painting excursion to a tiny village in the South of France near Toulouse, after which he moved to the South Coast of NSW in Australia to paint, write and devote his life fully to the arts.
He first began exhibiting solo in 1977 in Mildura, Victoria and boasts a long list of individual and group exhibitions in rural NSW including The Riverina, The Blue Mountains, The Southern Highlands and The South Coast.
He has also exhibited in major galleries in Canberra, Perth and Sydney.
In 1982 he was part of the 'Eight Australian Artists’ exhibition at the Bolitho Gallery in Canberra and in the same year was invited as one in the group show ‘Contemporary Riverina Artists’ in the Wagga Wagga Regional Gallery.
This was followed by numerous solo and group exhibitions.
In 1995 he was commissioned by the Holy Spirit Hospital Brisbane to produce a series of 40 contemporary seascapes featuring yachts, luminous skies, birds in flight and colourful water surface reflections.
In 2007 he was invited by the Mayor and the gallery for a solo exhibition at the Regional Gallery in Nowra.
His imagery has several sources of inspiration; from the translucent light and moods of the coast; the vast openness and visual drama of the Australian landscape; and the exotic beauty and profound dignity of the peoples of Bali, Pacifica and Africa.
His figure series (Ripped Canvas) introduces dark and foreboding imagery that provoke contemplation and questioning.
ARTIST BACKGROUND
Born: 1950 Sydney Australia
Residing: Bawley Point NSW Australia
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Born in 1950 Sydney Australia, Allan Baptist has been painting and drawing for over 50 years since the age of three.
He spent 26 years in primary school education and Principalship and has served as an independent art consultant and Arts Manager with Local government from 1997 – 2008.
From the age of 18 Allan has been working on his art, painting drawing and exhibiting throughout Australia.
He is represented in many private and public collections.
