Joel Rea was born in 1983 and graduated in 2003 from the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, with a Bachelor of Fine Art. Upon graduating he was awarded Golden Key International Honour Society membership for outstanding scholastic achievement and excellence and was also granted the Griffith Award for academic excellence in Fine Art.

In 2005, Joel released his first group of oil paintings in Melbourne with Lethbridge Gallery and was met with immediate success and acclaim for his meticulous detail and vivid concepts. Through the next few years, Joel painted profusely and released new works annually in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. In 2006, his first solo exhibition of paintings, ‘High Fidelity’, was purchased entirely by a single international collector before opening night. In 2007 at the age of 24, he achieved a record high price for a single painting, ‘Killing Me Softly’, which sold for AU$30,000.

Through many national and international acquisitions, Joel has been able to support his full-time fine art practice with great artistic freedom and diversity. In addition, he has drawn upon his technical skills by leading workshops for art students and professionals in the development of painting style and the uses of oils.

In 2010, Joel decided to compete in prestigious art prizes and awards, and as a first time entrant he was selected as a finalist in the Metro Art Award, Australia’s richest award for artists under 35 years of age, as well as the Redland Gallery Biennial Contemporary Painting Competition Art Award.

This year Joel was a second time finalist in the 2011 Metro Art Award, coming in 2nd place with a Highly Commended from the judges. Joel also had paintings selected in the finalist exhibitions of the Prometheus Visual Arts Award on the Gold Coast and the Clayton Utz Art Award in Brisbane.

Walk Alone

Pursuit Under Silver Skies

Monumentum

Moment of Truth

Direct Ambition

Short preview of the soon to be released Video Portrait of Australian Artist Joel Rea.

Video by Honey House Productions

Music by PamPamPam

Francesco

Laureato in biblioteconomia, autore del volume sull'editoria underground italiana dal titolo "Underground: ascesa e declino di un'altra editoria 1966-1977" edito da Costa & Nolan e già collaboratore della rivista di collezionismo "Vintage" con una rubrica sulla poster art.