Capper
Stuart Mattress
- Sitter: Wawrick Capper
- Medium: Oil on Paper
- Dimensions: 112cm x 160cm
- Representation: This artist represents themselves
About the artwork
Warwick Capper is a legendary Australian Rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Bears and Sydney Swans known for his high-flying marks and larger-than-life personality both on and off the field.
“What drew me to paint Warwick Capper is the way he embodies a uniquely Australian brand of folklore – the unapologetic, larger-than-life larrikin. To me, he represents a moment in our cultural history when sport, celebrity and self-parody all collided, and he leaned into it with humour and theatricality rather than shying away.”
This electric portrait is based on a photograph taken by the artist in the “Capper Cave” at his home in Melbourne. In this space filled with photos, trophies and other sporting memorabilia, Capper sits dressed in a flamboyant leopard-print jacket, his trademark mischievous grin still in place.
“I approached the portrait not just as a tribute to a colourful legend, but as a reflection on the bittersweet, fleeting nature of celebrity.”
About the artist
Stuart Mattress is a self-taught artist based on the Gold Coast working across design, photography, painting and fine art. His work focuses on men in everyday settings, creating narratives that capture personality and character. Working primarily in oils and charcoal, he combines technical skill with observational insight. He was a finalist in the Brisbane Portrait Prize in 2019.
