beck wheeler

Tarts and Flours Opening

2011-09-28T08:34:00.004+10:00

Im back in Auckland today after a wonderful trip to Oz. My solo show at 19 Karen Gallery went off with a bang on Sat 17th September and is up till 8th October. I did an artist talk with Mica Still and Kate McCarthy on Sunday 18th and then headed to Melbourne. I have recently confirmed two solo shows in Melbourne for next year, along with a possible third group show with Andrea Innocent, Cat Rabbit. Check out my webiste for updates on exhibitions.

Tarts and Flowers

2011-07-11T11:10:00.004+10:00

Hi Guys, Tarts and Flours is my next exhibition of paintings and sculptures.
These paintings will be on display at 19 Karen Gallery in Queensland, Australia from 17th Sept – 8th October.

In 2010 I moved my studio back home. Since then my days are filled with painting and baking. Tarts and Flours is a visual exploration of the baking process, taste and flavour.

I feel like the process of mixing paint and the process of mixing baking ingredients comes from the same creative space. I apply colour to canvas as I apply flavour to flour. This show is a homage to the domestic goddess within, the search for perfection in colour, texture and flavour. Tarts and Flours explores my early memories of baking as a child, the cakes mum used to make from the AWW Children’s Birthday Cake Book and the daily process of discovery in my own kitchen and studio.

See more images for this show on my website www.beckwheeler.com

Pepper me up....

2010-12-23T08:40:00.005+11:00

These little guys are the newest things to roll out of the studio. They are found object sculptures that also function as pepper grinders.

The first lot of pepper grinders came out off the studio in 2008 for an exhibition at Craft Victoria in Melbourne. They started out as a bit of a joke.....as I get people asking 'is that art?' when viewing my stuff another question I have been asked more than once is 'what is the point in making those/that?'....I made these so if anyone asked those questions about these pieces I could answer 'they are pepper grinders' and to the question 'what is the point?' I could answer 'well, it grinds pepper'. I thought it was funny at the time and over the past two years I have continued making them (and continued finding them funny).

The essence of my art practise is play. Play is the way we learn about the world as we grow from baby to child to adult. But somewhere along the line we are told that playing is for children and not for adults. Play has no right or wrongs like art, its all about experimenting, exploring, using your hands and not being afraid to get messy. I think all adults should play more.

The ideas behind making these pepper grinders has evolved alongside the practical skills I have acquired through playing with different materials.

These pepper grinders have evolved into domestic gods/goddesses. They are made from found domestic objects (such as broken childrens toys, old bits of cutlery, shaving brushes, can openers etc). I source objects from things I find around my own house, houses of friends and family, tip shops (or op shops) and garage sales. I try to find objects that have been used in a domestic setting but are now being thrown out. I clean them up, crave them or fill them with resin and then bind them together using a mixture of contemporary craft and traditional wood working techniques.

When painting them up I reference pattern making and mark making from objects used in tribal worship ceremonies of early civilisations.

These pepper grinders are part art, part multifunctional kitchen accessory and part object of domestic worship.

These three pieces are on available through Masterworks Gallery in Auckland.

music lovers

2010-06-22T10:57:00.002+10:00

Here are a few new drawings for a group show in Tokyo at a bar/restaurant/art space called The Pink Cow (1-3-18 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku). Show is being organised by Cinzah Merkens and Spencer Harrington. Show up from July 1st, with opening night drinks on the 11th July.

New Work

2010-03-07T16:34:00.004+11:00

Here are some images of a table I painted up for a designer in Auckland. The table is being used as a coffee table in their office. The illustrations depict people with their imaginary friends.

super amazing flash skills....ha

2010-03-07T10:15:00.003+11:00

I sat down to teach myself flash yesterday. My dreams of mastering flash in 8 hours were dampened by having to relearn how to draw. But by the end of the day I had managed to learn how to draw something and make it move. The sound is grabbed from a Che Fu track.

A post for Rrramone

2010-01-29T13:38:00.002+11:00

Happy 2010!
I'm moving my studio to Piha, and in celebration I did this doodle.
Although my blog has been quiet, I have been busy building stuff. So keep tuned for posts of new 3d stuff that are due to be up here in a few weeks.
3d stuff in the pipeline:
- a new series of peppergrinders, a follow on from a series made in 2009.
- a new series of chairs.....pimped up retro chairs, that are being turned into ride on creatures.
- a new series of sculptures called 'meals on wheels'
2d stuff in the pipeline:
- a new series of childrens books
- a pile of doodles that need exhibiting at some point
- a series of painted panels

two heads are better than one

2009-07-09T15:14:00.003+10:00

when in deep water, become a diver

2009-07-09T15:12:00.001+10:00

counting down

2009-07-09T14:45:00.004+10:00

The countdown is on for two reasons.....
firstly the launch of my new website (fingers crossed only a week away)
secondly my upcoming move to the land of the long white cloud (aka: NewZealand)

something to check out in the meantime:
clog blog for an interview on my Totally Totem show at Craft Victoria, Melbourne.

and things to look out for in the future:
+The release of "Ink Me" a book of temporary transfer tattoos by Mao Mao Publications
due to be released in November 09. Featuring some of my tattoo designs.
+The Images33 Best of British Illustration annual and touring exhibition. Featuring some of my illustration stuff (UK in July/August)
+The ladies at Handmade Life are releasing a book of crafty folks. This will have some of my Totem pole/Peppergrinders in it aswell as an interview piece.

New Paintings

2009-04-16T17:04:00.007+10:00

Beck Wheeler's online folio can be viewed here

Beck's book 'How Absurd' can be bought here

or contact beck@beckwheeler.net

Totally Totem exhibition at Craft Victoria

2009-02-05T17:25:00.008+11:00

Totally Totem is an exhibition of pepper grinders by Beck Wheeler. Beck Wheeler has made a series of domestic gods for the domestic goddess. Handmade, handpainted and fully functional pepper grinders.

Where: Craft Victoria, 31 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
When: 23rd March - 12th April 2009
What: Installation in Encounter (window space at Craft Victoria)

recent write ups

2008-08-25T12:46:00.013+10:00

Check out the latest Dumbo Feather mag (issue 18) for a write up on Becks 2008 solo show

Design Quarterly named Beck Wheeler in the Top Ten Forces and Faces in Australian Design (Vol. 29)
Urbis Magazine profiled Beck in their 'small things considered' (issue 42)

t-shirts on red bubble

2008-08-20T14:48:00.002+10:00

new kissy kissy and beck wheeler t-shirt designs available on redbubble

Beck shortlisted in CREATE:08 AWARDS

2008-07-23T18:21:00.005+10:00

tokyo biz nite talk

2008-07-12T15:26:00.004+10:00

Beck Wheeler and Andrea Innocent are doing a presentation of their work at Biz Nite/Tokyo.

If your in tokyo come share an asahi with us....

BiZ NITE is at Daikanyama Tableaux. July 14th, 2008. 6 pm - late.

Biz Nites are held monthly at Daikanyama Tableaux on 7/14, 8/18, 9/8, and venue TBD on 10/20, 11/17, 12/15.

What is BiZ NITE?
Tokyo's fastest growing networking event for creative business people. It's a monthly event which features presentations, showcases, exhibitions, discussion panels, product launches and more from the creative industries in Tokyo.

Icon 5 Roadshow Illustration Salon 2008

2008-06-27T18:08:00.001+10:00

Beck Wheeler is part of the ICON 5 Roadshow Illustration Salon 2008
Wednesday July 2nd 5:00-8:00pm
Roosevelt Hotel 45 E. 45th Street off Madison Avenue, New York
RSVP by June 30th to admin@theillustrationconference.org
Use Roadshow RSVP as the subject heading
www.theillustrationconference.org for more info

solo exhibition

2008-02-25T10:53:00.002+11:00

"Hey, Hey, Which Way?"
Exhibition of recent works by Beck Wheeler
Opening 6:30pm 4th March
52 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, Melbourne
4th - 30th March

hung by the sticky bits exhibition

2007-09-11T10:25:00.000+10:00

'hung by the sticky bits' exhibition opened Sept 5th. check out myspace.com/hungbythestickybits for details.

the ghost of lunches past

2007-05-10T16:13:00.000+10:00

beck's appeal

2006-11-12T02:03:00.001+11:00

This is the toy I designed for Beck's album The Information.
This toy has a button off face that when removed reveals the glaring eyes of a monster/creature.
These toys were used as part of an online promotional campaign for Beck's album. Limited to an edition of 20 handmade toys, they have been given away as prizes along with free copies of the album.