Boranup
Gallery

HOWARD WILLIAM STEER – ARTIST STATEMENT

Born 1947, Howard William Steer is the most senior member of the Arid Zone Artists, and commenced painting in 1970. While the majority of his paintings depict the people of the Outback and their struggle with a desperately harsh environment, many deal with the life of early miners in his hometown, Broken Hill.

Growing up in that city, he had ample opportunity to talk to older miners, pioneers and union leaders, some of whom had memories of life dating back to the turn of the century.

From them, he developed the foundation for what he calls ‘Story Art’, where each painting tells its own story, be that of a backyard wedding or a Sunday afternoon pub crawl. A prime example is the ‘Flying Doctor’ series featuring a winged, black-suited saviour complete with top hat and bag. It’s a recurrent theme, much like Nolan’s Ned Kelly.

Like many Outback artists, Howard’s style is classified as naive realism.
Howard’s work is in many private collections throughout Australia and overseas.

SELECTED BIOGRAPHY

BORN 1947 – BROKEN HILL, NEW SOUTH WALES – YEAR COMMENCED PAINTING – 1970

EXHIBITIONS

1985 Exhibited at the Anthill Gallery, Broken Hill, N.S.W.
Exhibited at the J.C. Art Gallery, Broken Hill, N.S.W.
1986 Chosen by the selection panel to exhibit in the Hans Heysen Memorial Art Prize.
1987 SOLO SHOW – Gallery Art Naive, Melbourne, VIC
SOLO SHOW – Naughton Studio, Sydney, N.S.W.
1988 Exhibition – Madison Galleries, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
Exhibition – Libby Edwards Galleries, Melbourne, VIC
Exhibition – Naughton Studio, Sydney, N.S.W.
Exhibition – Gallery Art Naive, Melbourne, VIC
Exhibition – “Screen Exhibition” Libby Edwards Galleries, Melbourne, VIC
The Silver City Exhibition, Broken Hill City Art Gallery.
1990 SOLO SHOW – Australian Naive Art Gallery, Sydney, N.S.W.
Australian Naive Gallery Exhibition to Musee de’ Naive, Paris
The Overbearing Lode, Broken Hill City Art Gallery.
Kookaburra Gallery, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.A.
1991 Jan Taylor Gallery, Annandale, N.S.W.
Dubbo Regional Art Gallery.
Gallery Art Naive, Melbourne.
1992 Shuttle Promotions, Surface Paradise, QLD
Capricorn Art Gallery, Fitzroy, VIC
SOLO SHOW – Ansett Golden Wings, Melbourne.
SOLO SHOW – Australian Naive Gallery, Sydney, N.S.W.
Barry Stern Galleries, Sydney, N.S.W.
Prince and Cohen Exhibition Gallery, Sydney, N.S.W.
Broken Hill Naive Exhibition, Broken Hill City Art Gallery
1993 Avoca Gallery, Kincumber.
SOLO SHOW – Paul Greenway Gallery, Adelaide
1994 SOLO SHOW – Valerie Cohen Exhibition Gallery, N.S.W.
Barry Stern Gallery Craftsman House Book Promotion. Libby Edwards Gallery Melbourne Craftsman House Book Promotion.
Kings School Sydney N.S.W. Group Exhibition.
Stanthorpe Regional Gallery Group Exhibition.
Sylvania Galleries Sydney.
Libby Edwards Galleries South Yarra VIC.
1995 SOLO SHOW – Sampatico Cafe, Phillip Street, Sydney.
Nudgee College Brisbane as feature artist.
Sylvania Galleries, Sydney.
1995 King School, Sydney.
Gibralter, Bowral.
The Royal Flying Doctor Exhibition.
1996 SOLO SHOW- John Dunn Bridgewater S.A.
SOLO SHOW Barry Stern Gallery N.S.W.
SOLO SHOW ANA Hotel Sydney.
SOLO SHOW- Libby Edwards Gallery, South Yarra.
Sam Dickerson Gallery Sydney – Group Exhibition.
Clare Valley “Arid Zone Artists” – Group Exhibition.
Barry Stern Gallery, Sydney – Group Exhibition.
King School, Sydney – Group.
Country Practice Gallery – “Arid Zone Artists” Group.
Prouds Art Gallery, Sydney/Philippines – Group Exhibition.
Art Images Gallery, Norwood South Australia
Artist in London.
1998 Avoca Art Gallery, NSW – “Arid Zone Artists”
Westfield Parramatta, NSW – “Arid Zone Artists”
Oatley Public School, Sydney – group exhibition
Delshan Art Gallery, Melbourne – “Arid Zone Artists”
Foundation of Creative Enterprise – group exhibition
SOLO SHOW Liberator Art Gallery – Adelaide
Two man exhibition, Francis Reilly Gallery, Eumundi – Old.
Group exhibition, Red Hill Gallery – Brisbane
1999 SOLO SHOW Francis Reilly Gallery, Queensland.
Red Hill Gallery, Queensland – Group Exhibition
King School, Sydney – Group
Prouds Art Gallery, Sydney
2000 Arid Zone Artists – The Sydney Art Gallery, Exhibition centre, Sydney
Arid Zone Artists – Delshan Gallery, Melbourne
Group exhibition – Bandamora gallery/ Darling Harbour
SOLO SHOW Francis Reilly Gallery, Queensland.
SOLO SHOW – Red Hill Gallery, Queensland
Prouds Art Gallery, Sydney
Arid Zone Artists – Exhibition centre, Melbourne
Eumundi Art Gallery, Queensland
Prouds Art Gallery, Sydney
Kings School, Sydney
Red Hill Gallery, Queensland
Flying Doctor Black and White Ball Promotion, Adelaide
Arid Zone Artists – Bandamora Gallery – Exhibition Centre Sydney
SOLO SHOW – Texas Regional Art Gallery, Queensland
Flying Doctor Black and White Ball Promotion, Adelaide
Penrith Creative Enterprise Program, Sydney
Light House Gallery, Queensland
White Patch Gallery, Queensland
SOLO SHOW Twin Waters Gallery, Queensland
Red Hill Gallery, Queensland
2001 SOLO SHOW Twin Waters Gallery, Queensland
2002 ARID ZONE ARTISTS exhibition, Toowoomba
SOLO SHOW R.F.D.S. exhibition Perth
BLOOD BROTHERS SOLO SHOW – “Burke and Wills” – Collins Street Gallery – Melbourne
BLOOD BROTHERS SOLO SHOW – “Paying the Kelly’s a Visit” Collins Street Gallery – Melbourne
2003 BLOOD BROTHERS SOLO SHOW – “Ned” Red Hill Gallery Brisbane
ARID ZONE ARTISTS Rotary Club exhibition Toowoomba
BLOOD BROTHERS SOLO SHOW “First Australians” Art Room, Adelaide
BLOOD BROTHERS SOLO SHOW “BH.P. Mining” Stock Exchange, Perth
2004 BLOOD BROTHERS SOLO SHOW “Celebrate Australia” Singapore, sponsored by the Australian Federal Government
BLOOD BROTHERS SOLO SHOW “Captain Cook “Richard Martin Gallery Paddington
SOLO SHOW R.F.D.S. exhibition Guildford Potters, Perth
2005 FATHER AND SON exhibition White Patch Gallery Bribie Island, QLD
SOLO SHOW exhibition The Saints Gallery, Sydney
2006 Group exhibition Red Hill Gallery Red Hill, Queensland
SOLO SHOW exhibition L & K Gallery Subiaca, Perth
2007 BLOOD BROTHERS SOLO SHOW “Rubbing shoulders with the Kelly’s”
L&K Gallery, Subiaca, Perth
BLOOD BROTHERS “Great Hall” Parliament House, Canberra
2007 Kings School, Sydney
2008 SOLO SHOW L&K Gallery, Subiaca Perth
2008 Kings School, Sydney
2009 SOLO SHOW Gomboc Gallery Middle Swan, Perth
2009 BLOOD BROTHERS Gomboc Gallery Middle Swan, Perth
2009 Kings School, Sydney

AWARDS

1984 Winner of the Tallangatta Historical Art Prize, judged by Charles Bush
1985 Winner of the Open Section, New South Wales Police Art Award
1986 Highly commended – Shoalhaven Art Prize
Chosen as finalist for the Blake Prize, Blaxland Gallery, Sydney,N.S.W.
Finalist in the Canberra Times Art Award
1987 Highly commended – Tumut Art Prize
1988 Winner of the open section, New South Wales Police Art Prize
1990 Finalist in the New York University Art Prize.
1993 Junee Art Prize

REGIONAL COLLECTIONS

Waltzing Matilda Centre Winton
Swan Hill Regional Gallery
Broken Hill City Art Gallery
Dubbo Regional Art Gallery
Lake Macquarie Regional Art Gallery
Stockman’s Hall of Fame QLD
In July, 1992 an art work entitled “Bush Olympics” was featured on the “Sale of the Century” television program.
The Family Hotel Tibooburra Features Two New Murals Promoting the Royal Flying Doctor.

MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS

R.F.D.S. Federal Report
Craftsman House Naïve Book
State of the Art Book
World Wide Bally Fashion Magazine

1990 Australian Diary
1998 Dog’s Life Magazine
1998 Aussie Post
1998 Outback Adventures Productions
1998 Kendall Country Connections
1998 Landrover “Experience” Magazine
1999 “Expressions” Magazine, Sydney
2000 “Expressions” Magazine, Queensland
2002 Michael Berry Contemporary Artists of Australia
BLOOD BROTHERS Melbourne Herald – “Burke and Wills” show – 8th May
BLOOD BROTHERS Melbourne Herald – “Burke and Wills” show- 15th May
BLOOD BROTHERS Melbourne Herald – “Paying the Kelly’s a Visit” – 28thOctober
BLOOD BROTHERS Australian Art Collector Magazine – Oct/ Nov / Dec Edition
2003 BLOOD BROTHERS Australian Art Collector Magazine – Jan/ Feb/ March Edition
2006 Rex Airlines in Flight Magazine
Cover of Broken Hill Tourist magazine “The Accessible Outback” 2007 BLOOD BROTHERS Australian Art Review
BLOOD BROTHERS Australian Art Collector Magazine
2008 Rex Airlines in Flight Magazine
2008 Australian Art Collector
2009 Outthere Magazine
2010 Outthere Magazine