Stepping into David Griggs’ Sydney studio in the lead up to his show at Roslyn Oxley9 gallery was a sensory experience.
The scale of his paintings is large and the colour is bold. The word ‘psychedelic’ has been used more than once in describing his work and it certainly applies to his show about to hit the Sydney art scene. It’s fabulously called Mankini Island.
David’s a painter, sculptor and filmmaker, has exhibited in over 25 solo shows and has been hung in the prestigious Archibald Prize eight times.
A large part of who he is as an artist stems from his time in the Philippines where he lived for over 10 years. Many of the works he produced there were included in the powerful survey exhibition ‘Between Nature and Sin’ which travelled across Australia over about two years.
Through his Archibald portraits he’s been open about his experiences with depression and in this episode he shares his views on how he manages and overcomes it.
Mankini Island opens at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery on Friday, 7 February 2020.
To listen to the podcast episode click ‘play’ beneath the above photo.
Scroll down to see a short video of Maria Stoljar talking with David Griggs in his studio
Upcoming Shows
- Mankini Island, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney, 7 to 29 February, 2020
Show Notes
- David Griggs on Instagram
- David Griggs at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery
- David Griggs at Station Gallery
- David Griggs at Gag Projects
- Matthys Gerber
- Jose Legaspi
- Paul Pfeiffer
- Alexie Glass-Kantor
- Artspace


Finalist Archibald prize 2019



Newcastle Art Gallery Collection

Finalist, Archibald Prize 2013
Fantastic Interview – especially talking about Depression – Many Thanks
Thanks for listening Kerry
Love it! F* everyone
Thank you for always the best honest conversations with amazing painters
And thanks to you for listening Gloria