Corroded Head after James Gleeson

Challenged to do an “Appropriation,” of a famous artist’s work, I knew my choice would have to come from my most favourite Australian surrealist artist – James Gleeson. 1915 – 2008. The piece was titled " We inhabit the corrosive littoral of habit," 1940. I made some changes, only using the corroded head and the woman’s figure, then setting them into my own landscape, with a pathway which lead to a door, a reminder that in life, there are always other paths we can take. In the original, there was a woman’s figure which I chose to include, with corrosions to identify with my own body and how my passed illness had affected me. Making this painting so personal, was not an easy decision, but once made, was very liberating.
The message behind the original painting was that often, habit, stands in our way and does not allow us to be instinctive or experience new adventures, therefore habit is corrosive.

Follow

Cathy Gilday views art as a powerful form of personal expression, allowing her to convey her emotions through her work. Although she acknowledges that this process can be confronting, Cathy finds it incredibly liberating to create art that is both honest and heartfelt. She embraces a wide range of mediums, always remaining open to new techniques and materials as she explores the creative process.

Her painting sessions are often immersive, with Cathy losing herself in the act of creation. For her, time becomes irrelevant as she allows each piece to unfold naturally. She believes that art should never be rushed or forced; instead, it should evolve at its own pace, guided by intuition and feeling.

Cathy's artwork is featured in private collections across the globe, including in Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Scotland, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA. Additionally, her creations have been showcased in Australian productions such as *The Bureau of Magical Things* and the 2023 ABC series *In Limbo*.

Throughout her career, Cathy has generously donated many of her pieces to support various charitable causes. These include the Leukemia Foundation, the Breast Cancer Foundation, Save Lives Donate Organs Inc., IWaG I Want a Greyhound Inc., Greyhound Rehoming, and the Incognito nonprofit organization.