PIERMARQ* is pleased to present H E A T W A V E, an exhibition of new work by Australian artist, Craig Handley, opening on May 8, 2025. This is Handley’s fourth exhibition with PIERMARQ* in Sydney.
H E A T W A V E draws inspiration from the nostalgic essence of suburban life in 1980s Australia, exploring fleeting moments and familiar scenes with a cinematic quality. The exhibition highlights Handley’s unique ability to blur the boundaries between realism, surrealism, and narrative. His work captures intimate, everyday moments that reminisce upon the sense of the warmth and simplicity of suburban life, with a dreamlike intensity that is both familiar and strange.
In his distinct style, skillfully using oil paint to create a delicate, watercolor-like effect, Handley creates moments suspended in time, where narrative and observation intertwine. Evoking a sense of nostalgia, the work alludes to a memory of things that may not have happened exactly as we recall them, but are deeply felt nonetheless. Handley’s use of light, color, and atmosphere, create a sense of intimacy and contemplation. The emotionally resonant scenes explore themes of memory, identity, and place. His work blurs the lines between realism and surrealism, creating visual narratives that draw from both personal and collective experiences.
Craig Handley lives and works in Berry, New South Wales. Handley has been a finalist in over 80 art prizes and is the recipient of multiple awards, establishing his reputation as a leading figure in contemporary Australian art.
