Series 1 – Hard-Edged Abstraction
In this series, Downey moves away from representation to embrace minimal abstraction. Straight lines and concentric geometry define compositionally driven paintings, where resin-dipped timber encases acrylic in a high-gloss finish. Hard-edge squares suggest wet windows and interior spaces, conjuring the charged energy of Fontana’s slashed canvases—what Downey describes as “Brutalism lifting her skirt.” This disciplined approach sharpens his use of color, balancing earthy 1970s tones with flashes of 1980s pop vibrancy, bridging architectural form with the expressive possibilities of abstraction.
Series 2 – Setting the Past
This series of resin relief sculptures captures fractured patterns and primal forms, set against a modern landscape. Downey describes it as “Brutalism smoking a joint”—a fusion of historical gravitas with contemporary irreverence. The works carry the weight of deep history, not just in materiality but in their underlying message: the past is not lost but set, embedded in time as a reminder that lessons should be learned. Through texture and form, this series explores the cyclical nature of progress, questioning whether the past holds the key to what lies ahead.
Series 3 – Full Impact Wet Wall Wonders
Large-scale resin relief sculptures take center stage, poured directly into the frame and submerged in layered tones that deconstruct Australian flora. This marks an evolution in Downey’s resin practice, introducing new sculptural forms while maintaining echoes of his early works on canvas. The result is a fresh yet familiar eruption—an immersive, tactile exploration of organic shapes transformed through industrial materials.
