CONTEMPORARY ART STOCKROOM Michael Gromm

Upcoming Exhibitions

Michael Gromm’s relationship to his medium speaks of an open two-way process of making and unmaking, of the physical actions of painting and the emotional impacts of looking. These are tremendously flamboyant images, joyful and brash in their exuberance. Paired with the somewhat allegorical, sometimes nonsensical titles he bestows upon each one, they also speak of the absurd and superfluous acts, decisions and spontaneities that drive much of our human endeavour. Gromm’s large fluid paintings seek to suspend the viewer in a state of preternatural ‘nowness’ creating moments of visual and mental spaciousness, capable of encouraging creativity, reflection and calm within an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.

I have an innate fascination with what is not known, and enjoy those moments when my eyes perceive things incorrectly. Those moments, usually out of the corner of my eye, when a few shapes or movements blend together to trigger a response from my consciousness. My works delve into the unknown and form unplanned, unending puzzles; a game of charades for both me and the viewer. However, among the puzzles there exists an overarching awareness that sets the direction of my works, and strikes a fundamental balance between letting the paint do as it wants, and making it do as it is told.
Michael Gromm, Artist Statement

Those familiar with Michael’s work might find themselves disoriented. The hard-edge abstraction remains, but it’s spliced with something else. He is breaking out. The usual clear backgrounds and defined compositions have given way to something altogether murkier and less contained. We’re no longer looking at a discrete island, but a close-up of something part synthetic, breaking out of the frame, part organic and entirely unknowable. Are we looking at an organism absorbing hostile objects? Teleport accidents? Are we wading through the poisoned waters and glimmering plastics of the Pacific Ocean’s trash vortex?
Extract from essay by Will Cox 2025

ARTIST PROFILE:
Michael Gromm holds a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the University of Ballarat. He has been a finalist in the Geelong Contemporary Art Prize (2016), the Scope Galleries Art Prize (2012), the Metro Gallery Art Prize (2010), the Fletcher Jones Contemporary Art Prize (2008) and was announced the winner of the David Pratt Drawing Award (2001). Gromm was selected to exhibit in FLG’s Exploration exhibition in 2015 and was subsequently awarded the FLG Emerging Artist Award. FLG exhibited his work in a successful showing at Melbourne Art Fair in 2022. His works are held in collections in Singapore, USA and across Australia. He has been exhibiting with FLG since 2016.

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Media Highlights

When the sun was my head 2025
acrylic on linen
168cm x 137cm
$7,500 AUD

anything all of the time 2024
oil & acrylic on canvas, framed with Victorian Ash
163cm x 133cm
Reserved

Dad Jokes and Scapegoats 2025
acrylic on linen
182cm x 61cm
$5,000 AUD

Biggles in a Tiger Moth 2025
acrylic on linen
182cm x 61cm
$5,000 AUD

I only take what I need but there is always more readily available at the supermarket 2023
acrylic on linen
180cm x 240cm
$14,000 AUD

Comfort in conflict (who's your daddy) 2025
acrylic on linen
80cm x 102cm
$4,000 AUD

Icarus should have flown at night 2025
acrylic on linen
106cm x 111cm
$5,000 AUD

My cat doesn't have a mortgage 2025
acrylic on linen
106cm x 111cm
$5,000 AUD

Is this an ad or sitcom -either way I'm sold 2025
acrylic on canvas
111cm x 106cm
$5,000 AUD

Punk kids walking a dog 2023
acrylic on linen
111cm x 106cm
In Artist's Studio
$4,700 AUD

I was raised by sitcoms 2023
acrylic on linen
106cm x 111cm
In Artist's Studio
$4,700 AUD

Jackie Chan is seventy and no longer jumps off buildings 2025
acrylic on linen
97cm x 87cm
$3,500 AUD

Water orbit 2025
acrylic on linen
97cm x 87cm
$3,500 AUD

Buy Porsche, drive Porsche. Buy banana, eat banana (number 2) 2025
acrylic on linen
111cm x 106cm In artist's studio
$5,000 AUD

Soothing LED time 2020
acrylic, pencil & collage on 300gsm paper, unframed
76cm x 57cm
$1,400 AUD