Dion Beasley, untitled, pencil and graphite on paper
Cheeky Dogs
7 February – 22 March, 2020
Artist
Dion Beasley
Dion Beasley is an Alywarr artist who lives in Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. His Cheeky Dogs artworks and children’s book illustrations are renowned throughout Australia and the world. This selection of original works depicts Beasley’s fascination with dogs and his distinct approach to mapping place. Beasley is deaf and communicates through a truncated form of Auslan and his prolific drawing. His art and award-winning books portray in vivid detail his life in Tennant Creek, and the landmarks, interactions and dogs that are characteristic of and central to the life of many remote communities.
Beasley has exhibited across Australia, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney and the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. For the past eight years he has collaborated with Darwin-based author Johanna Bell on the Cheeky Dogs children’s books series. Beasley was the 2019 recipient of the Australia Council’s National Arts and Disability Award for an Emerging Artist, and his works were included in the 22nd Biennale of Sydney, NIRIN WIR.
Presented as part of the 2020 Perth Festival in association with Salon Art Projects
