Upstream

Epic and expressive landscapes from Baden Croft‘s immensely popular Upstream series will soon tour Michael Reid Murrurundi following their recent debut at our Southern Highlands gallery.

This collection of sweeping scenes reveals the artist’s joyful communion with the Australian bush. With thickly loaded brushstrokes, Croft moves across his monumental canvases to trace meandering river bends and the gnarled trunks that border their banks.

If Upstream is rooted in a deep attachment to Australia’s landscapes, it also bears the imprint of Brett Whiteley, one of its most evocative interpreters. Whiteley’s pliable forms and dedication to aesthetics over topographical fidelity clearly resonate with Croft. His canvases embody a similar spontaneity and fluidity, layering bold graphic elements over neutral grounds.