DANCE, GEOFFREY (1930 -)

"Corpusants Have Mercy On Us All" (1965) 
oil on board
60 x 90cm
signed lower right
*private collection, Sydney
 
Dance is a forgotten English-born Australian Expressionist. He was born in London. After National Service he emigrated to Australia in 1950. He worked for two years in advertising. After three years on the land as a jackaroo and wool-roller, he returned to England in 1956. He commenced painting in 1963 and was given his first one-man show at a Chelsea gallery in April 1964. Later that same year he had another London exhibition at the Portal Gallery in Bond Street, which was a complete sell-out. His work is reminiscent of important Australian artists of the period including Sir Sidney Nolan & Charles Blackman. In early 1965 he once again returned to Australia, and at the end of that year had another extremely successful exhibition at the Portal Gallery. His first Australian show was held at Australian Galleries, Melbourne, in 1966. Since that time he had held further exhibitions at the Bonython Gallery, Adelaide, and Portal Gallery, London, in 1967, and Australian Galleries, Melbourne, 1968. Later, he was the Head Of Graphic Design at Swinburne University. His works are represented in several important institutions including the Victoria Gallery & Museum, and Portsmouth Museum.