In 'The Saloon', Philippe Le Miere orchestrates an unlikely meeting between two of Australian art's greatest icons, reimagining John Brack's celebrated 'The Bar' through the unmistakable silhouette of Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly. With equal measures of affection and mischief, Le Miere playfully blurs the boundaries between Australia's artistic legends, inviting viewers to imagine what might unfold when these familiar worlds collide.

Rendered in Le Miere's characteristically heightened palette, the work pulses with saturated colour, expressive brushwork and richly textured impasto. Thick, energetic layers of paint transform these well-known motifs into something fresh and unexpected, balancing humour with painterly exuberance.

Throughout his practice, Le Miere delights in borrowing from art history, re-imagining celebrated images to reveal new possibilities and fresh narratives. Here, Brack's quietly observed portrait of post-war Melbourne social life meets Nolan's mythic bushranger in a witty visual conversation that is both nostalgic and contemporary. Rather than simply quoting these masterpieces, Le Miere breathes new life into them, celebrating their enduring place in Australia's cultural imagination while unmistakably making them his own.

Philippe LE MIERE (1975 - )
'The Saloon' 2026
acrylic on canvas
Image Size: 38 x 51 cm
Dimensions: 38 x 51 cm
Signed: Signed lower right Le Miere, inscribed verso Philippe Le Miere, title and date

Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition:Excellent:

(c) The Artist or Assignee