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David Laity, born in Wangaratta, Victoria in 1958, is one of Australia’s most distinctive contemporary artists. His journey began far from the world of fine art, with an early career as a motor mechanic. However, a move to Perth in the early 1980s proved transformative: Laity’s hobby of drawing cartoons blossomed into a professional pursuit. His comic strip, “Rat Race,” debuted in the Perth Western Mail in 1983, quickly gaining popularity and later appearing in the Shepparton News and other regional publications throughout the 1980s.
Laity’s cartoons, known for their humour and keen observation of daily life, were deliberately non-political, focusing instead on the universal quirks of human nature. His early exhibitions, such as “Out on a Limb” at the Benalla and Shepparton Art Galleries, and the publication of his monograph “It’s a Rat Race,” established him as a creative force in Australia’s graphic arts scene.
In 1993, Laity shifted his focus to painting and sculpture, launching a new phase of his career. Inspired by his wife Regina, who often served as muse and model, Laity began exploring the sensuality and beauty of the feminine form. His works celebrate intimacy and love, rendered with a playful, stylized approach that draws on his cartoonist roots. Laity’s paintings are instantly recognizable for their bold silhouettes, limited colour palettes, and the use of hessian fabric, which gives each piece a rich, tactile quality.
Laity’s art is deeply personal yet universally resonant. His ongoing exploration of two central themes—the nude and the environment—reflects both his fascination with the human figure and his connection to the natural world. Living and working on the outskirts of Benalla, Victoria, Laity’s surroundings often inspire his environmental works, which highlight themes of conservation and regeneration.
Collectors and art lovers can currently acquire several outstanding Laity works:
Each of these works demonstrates Laity’s ability to blend humour, sensuality, and artistry, making them highly sought-after by collectors in Australia and internationally.
Laity’s art is often compared to the likes of Beryl Cook and Fernando Botero, but his approach is uniquely his own. His figures voluptuous, playful, and unapologetically sensual are rendered in a style that is both sophisticated and approachable. The use of hessian fabric and the build-up of pigments give his paintings a warmth and glow that make them stand out in any collection.
Laity’s background as a cartoonist is evident in the economy of line and the clarity of form in his work. His paintings are not merely portraits; they are celebrations of individuality, intimacy, and the joy of being seen. The limited colour palette and stylized forms evoke the aesthetics of the 1950s, while the subject matter remains thoroughly contemporary.
David Laity’s work has been exhibited widely across Australia, with solo shows at many leading galleries. His paintings and sculptures are held in numerous public, corporate, and private collections throughout Australia and overseas, reflecting his enduring appeal and the strong collector following he has built over decades.
David Laity’s works are more than just art they are statements of confidence, intimacy, and joie de vivre. Each piece invites the viewer into a world where sensuality is celebrated, individuality is cherished, and beauty is found in both the human form and the surrounding environment.
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