Myles Burgess (b. 1986), a contemporary painter born in Sydney and now based in Melbourne, creates expressive abstract art that explores personal narratives and the human condition. His work delves into themes of identity and emotion, using a combination of acrylic, oil, and household enamel paints and stains, applied with brushes, sticks, scrapers, and his hands. The application of these materials ranges from controlled to chaotic, with each painting evolving over months through multiple layers until the final piece emerges.

His style blends gestural and minimal abstraction, marked by expressive mark-making and bold, expansive areas of colour. This creates a visual tension, drawing the viewer into a deep and immersive experience. Burgess’s artistic practice is driven by a relentless creative impulse, which serves as a means of emotional expression and self-exploration. The themes of his work centre on patience, personal growth, and moving beyond one’s comfort zone, reflecting the human condition and the idea of giving a part of oneself in the pursuit of growth.

While Burgess has explored realism, especially portraiture, abstraction remains his primary focus. It is within abstraction that he finds excitement and freedom, constantly seeking new ways to visually express his ideas. His recent works focus on the concept of renewal, emphasizing the necessity of letting go in order to grow. These pieces are created through an intricate process of building layers, each contributing to a cohesive final image.