This episode is a conversation between James Powditch and Maria Stoljar in front of an audience at the Art Gallery of NSW, recorded by the Art Gallery SocietyJames Powditch has always loved the movies. As a child in the 70s and 80s he would watch whatever he could get away with - from Taxi Driver to Deliverance.But in recent years, after being shortlisted in the Archibald prize with paintings of Labor leader (now PM) Anthony Albanese and journalists Kerry O'Brien and Laura Tingle he noticed other themes emerge; media and politics.

In his most recent solo show at Nanda Hobbs Gallery he found a way to merge those interests. In Medium Cool: Journalism in Film, works took on titles of films in which journalism and politics were central themes. Beautifully composed assemblages incorporating found objects explored the ideas behind movies such as All the President's men and Network.

James has exhibited in over 10 solo shows and has won the Mosman and Blake art prizes. He has been a finalist in the Archibald Wynne and Sulman prizes for a combined total of about 25 times.

In this episode Maria has a vibrant (and often humorous) conversation with James in front of an audience at the Art Gallery of NSW as part of the Artists in Conversation series.

You can see images of the works they talk about below. Members of the Art Gallery Society can also see a video of this conversation for a limited period on the Art Gallery website.

To hear the podcast conversation press 'play' beneath the above photo.

Links

James Powditch on InstagramJames Powditch at Nanda\Hobbs GalleryVideo of this interview on the AGNSW website (for members)Art Gallery Society membership pageGet tickets for the Steve Lopes talk at the AGNSW Samantha Dennison interview on the Talking with Painters YouTube channel

'Once upon a time in Marrickville – Anthony Albanese', acrylic on paper and board 190 x 190 cm Finalist Archibald Prize 2020 

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions album cover 

New Order - Power, Corruption and Lies album cover  

'Citizen Kave' mixed media  200 x 300 cm, Finalist Archibald Prize 2014

‘Citizen Kane’ 2022 Mixed media, framed 80 x 120cm 

'All the President’s men II' 2023 mixed media, 40 x 60cm

'All the President's men' 2023, mixed media 130 x 282cm

'Laura Tingle - the fourth estate' Acrylic and paper on board 204 x 170.1cm Finalist Archibald Prize 2022

Movie poster ‘Judgment at Nuremberg’

Digital work, James Powditch

Peter Powditch Photograph by Robert Walker (c1970) 

‘Peter Powditch is a dead man smoking’ 2009, Mixed media 193 x 263cm, Finalist Archibald Prize 

Family photo, James Powditch

‘Crowdy Head (after Peter Powditch)’, acrylic on paper and cardboard  122 x 366

Finalist Wynne Prize 2022

‘Crowdy Head IV’, Oil on masonite, 50 x 48cm, Peter Powditch

The Wynne Club Championship 2023, oil, acrylic and pen on board, found objects , 180 x 316.1 cm , Wynne Prize finalist

Sam I Am, acrylic on paper and board  200 x 240 cm, Finalist Archibald Prize 2023

Digital work, James Powditch