I was born and grew up in the rural community of the Fassifern Valley in southeast Queensland, Australia. I enjoyed an idyllic country childhood, however, had little exposure to culture growing up where I did.

As a child, I was inclined to observe. I observed people, nature, and anything. I was naturally curious and transcribed my experiences through drawing and journaling. I also had a passionate interest in the arts, in all forms, from various genres of music to movies and theatre. I was most drawn to and still revere the ’20s and ’30s jazz age, Années folles, the golden age of Hollywood, Film Noir, jazz music, and the Great American Songbook.

After high school, I studied painting for a bachelor’s in fine arts degree at Griffith University, then at the old Seven Hills College, at Morningside, Brisbane. I also studied make-up and special effects artistry at night and freelance between classes, at night, and on weekends. I also taught make-up at the Studio B Make-up Academy for several years. I enjoyed working as a make-up artist backstage or onset. It was fun, exciting and creative, and I got to work with companies of talented people.

Consequently, the trust I developed with models, actresses, and dancers allowed me to photograph, paint and draw them.

The theatre, with its dramatic storytelling, intricate mise-en-scène, and the interplay of light and shadow, became the crucible in which my fascination for storytelling was kindled. It was here that I learned to appreciate the subtle nuances of human expression, the complexities of desire, and the profound moments of connection.

Working behind the scenes, I witnessed the magic of the stage, where actors and artists alike breathed life into stories that resonated deeply with the human experience. However, the exhibitionism of the stage, with its grandeur and the artifice of personas, stood in stark contrast to the vulnerability, fragility, and authenticity of the performers’ inner lives.

Carrying the Torch of Visual Legacy

This backstage perspective profoundly shaped my artistic vision, leading me to become a spiritual heir to the master photographers of Hollywood’s golden age. The dramatic chiaroscuro lighting of George Hurrell, who transformed stars like Veronica Lake into luminous icons through his pioneering shadow work; the psychological depth that Clarence Sinclair Bull brought to his portraits of Greta Garbo; the sculptural treatment of fabric that defined Horst P. Horst’s fashion studies; the dreamy high-contrast mystique of Lillian Bassman’s images; and Ruth Harriet Louise’s remarkable ability to capture both glamour and vulnerability – these visual storytellers became my artistic ancestors.

My paintings consciously translate their photographic language into oils and canvas, preserving their techniques while infusing them with contemporary relevance. Where these photographers worked with silver nitrate and light, I work with pigment and brushes, but the intention remains the same: to capture those suspended moments where glamour reveals deeper truths about the human condition. I see my work as not merely referencing these masters, but extending their tradition into the present – maintaining their celebration of beauty while adding layers of psychological complexity that speak to our current moment.

As I transitioned from the world of entertainment to that of the visual arts, I carried with me a deep curiosity and desire to explore the delicate interplay between outer appearances and the hidden depths of human existence. My art seeks to peel back the layers of veneer that we present to the world, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities and contradictions that reside within each of us.

Artistic influences such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Edgar Degas, John Sloan, Martin Lewis and Edward Hopper reinforced the dramatic and often hedonistic world of bohemian city life and its romantic ideals. For the last 30+ years, it’s been a privilege to continue this artistic journey, dedicating my work to a new era of urban exploration and urban romanticism as a living, evolving tradition and building upon these artists’ legacy while exploring the complexities of glamour and the vulnerabilities hidden beneath.

My artistic practice is an exploration of the duality of the human experience—the performative aspects that we project to the world and the profound, often fragile emotions that we keep hidden within. It is a testament to the power of art to shed light on the intricacies of our shared existence, where mystery, desire, and moral ambiguity converge.

I am driven by an unyielding dedication to continue exploring these ideas, to delve deeper into the contrast between what is seen and what is felt, and to invite viewers to join me on this journey of introspection and revelation. The exhibitionism of the stage may dazzle, but it is the authenticity of the inner life that truly intrigues and excites me as an artist.

I am guided by the belief that art has the power to bridge the gap between the external and the internal, offering a window into the profound depths of the human spirit.

– Brett Moffatt