Born in Scotland in 1948, Robert
McLeod attended the Glasgow School of Art before immigrating to New
Zealand in 1972.
McLeod's peculiar form of
expressionism is derived from a fascination with the physical
properties of paint, with an emphasis on the tactility of paint a
defining aspect of his style. In focussing on the physicality of
paint, McLeod celebrates the medium as an end rather than a means,
thereby redirecting interest to the qualities of the paint itself;
its occupation of space, its dependence on light for colour (and
McLeod is known for exploring the vast range of colour available)
and the change in feel associated with differing styles of
application (brush, palette knife, spray etc).
As McLeod has confirmed, his painterly raison d'être is,
"…the paint itself. I want it to be scraped, burnt, cut, pierced,
scarred, glazed, wrinkled, aged like skin. I'm not trying to use
paint to describe, or decorate, to make a beautiful surface or
object. I just want the paint to be"
His interest in the physical aspects of paint has led McLeod
outside the realm of the traditional rectangular canvas in favour
of more unconventional constructions and supports that further
emphasise the natural tendencies of paint. These free-form supports
reflect the fluidity and sensuality of paint, while at the same
time creating a tension of shape and colour unrivalled by the
square.