Twenty Twenty Five
Keith Burt
- Sitter: Keith Burt
- Medium: Oil on Board
- Dimensions: 36cm x 36cm
- Representation: Jan Murphy Gallery
About the artwork
Drawn to the great tradition of self-portraiture, Keith Burt has painted many throughout his accomplished career.
“From Velasquez and Rembrandt to Lucian Freud, the history of artists giving viewers a peek into their personal space is rich and interesting. There is no bending to the will of anyone else in a self-portrait, an artist looks in the mirror and paints.”
This was Burt’s final painting in his former studio, completed in just a few hours as the space was being dismantled around him ahead of the building’s demolition. With deliberate, uncomplicated brushstrokes, the expressive work offers a raw glimpse into his inner world.
“This is a self-portrait painted in 2025, a year which has been quite troublesome so far. I can feel all the sleepless nights in the face I see in the mirror. I have always found consolation in work, and painting a self-portrait is a good way for me to deal with the travails around me.”
About the artist
Keith Burt is a Brisbane painter and sculptor whose practice includes still life, landscape and portraiture. In 2020, he won the Brisbane Portrait Prize with a portrait of brothers Daniel and Matthew Tobin of Urban Art Projects. He is a five-time Archibald Prize finalist, Wynne Prize finalist and Darling Portrait Prize finalist. He exhibits with Jan Murphy Gallery in Brisbane.
