Biography

Artist Statement

As a figurative artist, Edward’s intentions are to break apart elements of photographs and open people’s eyes to his creative thinking. Edward found comfort in being a loosely realistic artist. It’s almost a reflection of how he lives. Neat, organised, structured but also emotional, raw and imperfect. He likes to communicate more about the subject through their expressions, body language and eyes.

Edward is motivated to create artworks of people because he is fascinated by the way we act, talk, behave and express ourselves. It’s this growing interest of expecting the unexpected, where he won’t know how the subject will pose, how the lighting will turn out or if the weather will change suddenly.

It’s almost quite funny, because he allows the subject to set the poses and he almost has no clue how to turn these into paintings. But then another photograph is captured, and it all makes sense to him. Edward thinks to himself, ‘This would make a great painting’.

Whether this artwork turns out to be a great painting is all about science. Studying the methods, processes, steps, experimentations and risks determine how effective the painting can be.

Edward consistently explores the behaviour of people. He aims to portray his subjects with honesty, paying close attention to their size, weight, frame and posture. By observing angles and proportions, Edwad tries to reflect the physical presence of each person in a way that feels true to who they are.

Edward holds onto a traditional mindset that resonates deeply with him. He loves to paint with brushes and palette knives, working on his own stretched canvases. The craftsmanship, the delicacy of fabric; its texture is beautiful when it shows through the paint.

Edward Jack Humphrey is an alumnus of the renowned National Art School, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, and has furthered his expertise with a Certificate IV in Arts and Cultural Administration from TAFE NSW. His notable achievements include being selected for the prestigious 2018 Salon des Refusés, becoming a finalist in the 2020 Archibald Portrait Prize, and earning recognition in the 2021 Bluethumb Art Prize.

Mission Statement

Edward's mission is to create artworks that capture personal and collective narratives, exploring themes of our environment, beauty, aesthetics, and the identity of people and culture.