Johnny Niesche
Zena, 2019
dye sublimation print on polyester voile, arcylic mirror
Jonny Niesche’s work captivates with its seamless blending of unexpectedly harmonious colours. Born in Sydney in 1972, the abstract minimalist artist only began his artistic career at 30 after spending a decade in NYC as a hardcore rockstar. While completing his Master of Fine Arts at the University of Sydney, he was selected by Heimo Zobernig to attend his masterclass at the Vienna Academy of Fine Art, fostering a lasting mentor-mentee relationship with the Austrian artist.
Niesche is renowned for his use of electric colour combined with fabric, reflective metal surfaces, and paint, paying homage to the glitz and glamour of ‘80s icons like David Bowie and Deborah Harry. Interestingly, Jonny’s colour sensibility traces back to his boyhood days, accompanying his mother to the vibrant worlds of cosmetics departments.