Gillie and Marc Schattner
Painters (Paddington, NSW)

Husband and wife Marc and Gillie Schattner are international award winning artists and Archibald Prize Finalists. Gillie, born in London in 1965 and Marc born in Melbourne in 1961 have been painting together for the last 15 years and have exhibited their art all over the world. Most of their artwork appears as diptychs. They work collaboratively on the same art piece combining their talent to arrive at a single vision. Every aspect of the art piece has both their minds and hands on it, reflecting their individual passions and influences in life.

Marc Schattner studied Graphic Design at Swinburne, Melbourne. Gillie Schattner is a self-taught artist. They have had solo exhibitions in Sydney, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and Belgium.

For information on how to purchase or commission Gillie & Marc's work, please contact them below.

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Artists Statement :
If you want to live a happy life, get a dog. Research has shown that pet ownership – and dog ownership in particular – leads to increased happiness, health and well-being. Inspired by this finding, which only proves what dog-lovers have known for years, Gillie and Marc began work on their dog series.

Gillie and Marc are fascinated by the things that give us pleasure, the things that make us happy, the things that make life worth living. Their subjects are dogs and cats, friendly smiling faces, the bright colours and comforting shapes of furniture and consumer goods. Their art celebrates the things that make us feel happy, loved and comfortable.

But their paintings also hints at darker meanings: do these handsome dogs, beautiful people and colourful objects belong to a world we can only dream of possessing? Do they represent all the things we wish for – perfect happiness, unconditional love, a stress-free lifestyle, a house that doesn’t need renovating – but can never have?

Gillie and Marc Schattner’s work uses a colourful and exuberant meshing of figurative expressionism and Pop Art to explore ideas of contentment and happiness. The bold, simple shapes and rich colours and textures they use in their paintings and sculptures are a source of simple, positive pleasure, while also suggesting metaphors for our search for happiness.

They have worked with the Smile Foundation, The Black Dog Institute and Australian Red Cross Blood Service. They are also successful portrait artists, and were recent finalists in the Archibald Prize. Specialising in children, pets and celebrities, their portraits are in international demand. Their subjects include Rhonda Birchmore, Scarlett Johannson, John Konrad, Archbishop Pell, Dr Harry Cooper, Jimmy Little, and the late Peter Brock. Marc and Gillie have had over 30 solo exhibitions, and are hung in prominent corporate and gallery collections.

Solo Exhibitions:
2009 The Dog In Us All, Linton and Kay, Perth
2009 I Love My Dog and My Dog Loves Me, Richard Martin, Sydney
2008 Wishful Thinking, Linton and Kay, Perth
2007 Modern Addiction Libby Edwards Melbourne
2006 Creature Comforts Libby Edwards Sydney
2005 Life Can't Wait Darling Park Gallery Sydney (Travelling exhibition around Australia)
1999 Sex in the City New York
1996 Circus New York
1994 Expats The Substation Singapore
1993 A Blue Eye View The Substation Singapore
1992 Eat Me Hilton Hotel Singapore
1990 Friends Hong Kong
1984 Travels Belguim

Selected Group Exhibitions:
2009 The South Australian Museum, The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, Adelaide, SA
2009 Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy
2009 Biennale di Chianciano,Tuscany, Italy
2008 Summer Exhibition, Linton and Kay, Perth
2008 Sunshine Coast Art Prize Finalist, Caloundra Regional Art Gallery
2007 Christmas Show, Linton and Kay, Perth
2007 New Paintings, Libby Edwards, Brisbane
2007 Mosman Art Prize Finalist Mosman Art Gallery
2007 Water Libby Edwards Brisbane
2006 Blake Exceptions Exhibition Chase Contemporary & Tribal Arts Gallery, Sydney
2006 New Paintings Libby Edwards Melbourne
2006 Archibald Prize Finalist Art Gallery of NSW Sydney
2006 Corporate Art Burleigh Queensland
2000 Mamaroneck Artist Guild New York
1998 Mamaroneck Artist Guild New York
1997 Mamaroneck Artist Guild New York
1997 Asian Scenes Singapore

Awards and Publications:
2009 The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize Finalist, The South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA
2008 Sunshine Coast Art Prize Finalist, Caloundra Regional Art Gallery
2007 Mosman Art Prize Finalist, Mosman Art Gallery
2006 ARCHIBALD PRIZE FINALIST Art Gallery of New South Wales 2006 (Portrait of John Konrads and Black Dog)
1999 MAMARONECK ART PRIZE (finalist)
1998 Cannes Advertising Festival for Scotch Brite and Ben Wear
1994 SINGAPORE CREATIVE CIRCLE ART PRIZE (winner)

Published Books:
2009 I Love My Dog and My Dog Loves Me published by Wakefield Press
2008 True Love published by Random House
2007 The Perfect Gift published by Random House
2006 The Happiest Day of My Life published by Random House. Best seller.
2005 Zac’s PB published by Hodder Headline
1999 Wizards of Willow published by SNP

Collections:
Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital Sydney
Darling Park, Sussex Street Sydney
Royal Adelaide Hospital
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
The Hilton Group Singapore

Commissioned Work:
Hilton Hotel Singapore, Macdonalds Corporate Headquarters Singapore, Dr Martens, Mercedes, Friends of the Earth, The Philharmonic Orchestra, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Smile Foundation, Black Dog Institute.