Edward Jack Humphrey has painted a portrait of prominent art dealer Michael Reid OAM. While working at Michael Reid Sydney, Edward had the interesting experience of developing both a professional relationship and a friendship with Michael.
With four decades in the art market, Michael's trajectory saw him move from dealing art in a small terrace house to establishing a flagship Sydney gallery with multiple satellite locations — in Murrurundi in the Upper Hunter, the Southern Highlands, and the Northern Beaches — as well as an international presence in Berlin. This year, Michael and colleagues are looking to open a space in Los Angeles. The galleries primarily represent Australian contemporary painting and photography, and approximately half of the artists they represent are First Nations.
Michael was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2016 for his service to the visual arts as a gallerist and writer. In 2022, News Corporation named him one of the 100 most influential people in Australian arts. Reflecting on the evolution of his galleries, Michael describes the growth as "sliding upward," noting that in the art world, "you are literally running forward and getting bigger… or you could well be going under."
In this portrait, Edward depicts Michael in a deep red jacket — a circus ringmaster's commanding presence — set against Max Dupain's iconic photograph The Sunbaker. The composition pays homage to Dupain's work while highlighting the vital connection between Australian cultural photography and Michael's significant role in the contemporary art market.
