Alan Tracey, Contemporary Artist
Based in Sydney, Australia
Alan Tracey is an artist based in Sydney who works in the expanded field of painting. His work is inspired by brutalist architecture and comprises highly textured and three dimensional painted abstract objects. The work has a strong materiality reflecting the shapes and monochromatic qualities of brutalist structures. The objects are constructed from carved expanding foam and polystyrene building materials mounted on plywood supports. Finishing comprises artists acrylic paint mixed with combinations of sand, crushed stone and calcite. The scale of some of the works echoes the monumentality of brutalism while also exhibiting minimalist characteristics.
Alan’s exploration of brutalist architecture as an inspiration for his practice considers the human relationship with the built environment and its importance to our work, cultural and spiritual lives. Associated with this is the recognition that architecture reflects the attitudes, ambitions and social conditions in society. The genre of brutalist architecture originated in the 1950s and 60s, particularly in post WWII reconstruction. It was an attempt to create an architectural ethic rather than an aesthetic and was based on an uncompromising desire to achieve architectural honesty in the form and materiality of buildings. Brutalist architecture included the essential characteristics - memorability as an image; clear exhibition of structure; and valuation of materials as “found”. There is a contemporary recognition of the social objectives behind brutalism’s development and the underlying honesty of its design philosophy. While often minimalist in form, it is also characterised by a very obvious expression of materiality and the manual processes of construction.
Alan was born in Perth, Western Australia, and was originally qualified with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) from Curtin University. He enjoyed an extensive professional career in the planning, development and management of major social infrastructure projects in diverse fields including health care and higher education. These included the management of public art programs associated with major hospital developments. Alan later moved into the visual arts, completing a Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting) degree at the National Art School in 2020. He has participated in a number of group shows and events at the National Art School over the course of his studies.
Alan was selected as one of 64 finalists from a field of over 1000 entries in the Dobell Drawing Prize in 2023. The biennial Dobell Drawing Prize is Australia’s leading prize for drawing, a celebration of technique, innovation and expanded drawing practices.
Based in Sydney, Australia
Alan Tracey is an artist based in Sydney who works in the expanded field of painting. His work is inspired by brutalist architecture and comprises highly textured and three dimensional painted abstract objects. The work has a strong materiality reflecting the shapes and monochromatic qualities of brutalist structures. The objects are constructed from carved expanding foam and polystyrene building materials mounted on plywood supports. Finishing comprises artists acrylic paint mixed with combinations of sand, crushed stone and calcite. The scale of some of the works echoes the monumentality of brutalism while also exhibiting minimalist characteristics.
Alan’s exploration of brutalist architecture as an inspiration for his practice considers the human relationship with the built environment and its importance to our work, cultural and spiritual lives. Associated with this is the recognition that architecture reflects the attitudes, ambitions and social conditions in society. The genre of brutalist architecture originated in the 1950s and 60s, particularly in post WWII reconstruction. It was an attempt to create an architectural ethic rather than an aesthetic and was based on an uncompromising desire to achieve architectural honesty in the form and materiality of buildings. Brutalist architecture included the essential characteristics - memorability as an image; clear exhibition of structure; and valuation of materials as “found”. There is a contemporary recognition of the social objectives behind brutalism’s development and the underlying honesty of its design philosophy. While often minimalist in form, it is also characterised by a very obvious expression of materiality and the manual processes of construction.
Alan was born in Perth, Western Australia, and was originally qualified with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) from Curtin University. He enjoyed an extensive professional career in the planning, development and management of major social infrastructure projects in diverse fields including health care and higher education. These included the management of public art programs associated with major hospital developments. Alan later moved into the visual arts, completing a Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting) degree at the National Art School in 2020. He has participated in a number of group shows and events at the National Art School over the course of his studies.
Alan was selected as one of 64 finalists from a field of over 1000 entries in the Dobell Drawing Prize in 2023. The biennial Dobell Drawing Prize is Australia’s leading prize for drawing, a celebration of technique, innovation and expanded drawing practices.