Sam leach biography

He was born in Adelaide, South Australia.
Sam Leach is an Australian contemporary artist.
He completed a Bachelor of Economics at Adelaide University in 1993, and studied at RMIT in Melbourne, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) in.

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Sam Leach

Born in Adelaide in 1973, Sam Leach studied at RMIT University, graduating with a BA (Hons.) in Painting in 2004 and a Master of Arts (Fine Arts) in 2009. His paintings, which typically examine the relationship between science, nature and technology, are characterised by their modest scale; their fine, precisely observed and realised detail; and their invocation of the traditions of 17th century still-life painting. Leach has been a finalist in many prizes and exhibitions across a number of genres including landscape, natural history and portraiture. A finalist in 2007, 2008 and 2009, Leach won the Archibald Prize in 2010 with his portrait of comedian, actor and musician, Tim Minchin; and in the same year was awarded the Wynne Prize for landscape painting. Leach was a finalist in the University of Queensland Self Portrait Prize in 2009. His work is represented in collections such as Monash University, Artbank, Geelong Art Gallery and the University of Queensland, as well as private collections.

Updated 2014

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Sam Leach Self in uniform

Sam Leach is aware that his self-portrait in Nazi uniform could be controversial, but he has painted the provocative image with a seriously considered message in mind.

“As a descendant of white Europeans I inherit a cultural legacy, which has produced much that is good, but has also produced much that is very bad,” says Leach. “While I love reason and science and admire the progress that has been made in those names, alongside that there is a much darker streak. The most frightening product of modern European culture was the Nazis. I think we need to recognise that the culture that produced Nazism is very close to our own. If we think of Nazis as being something quite different from ourselves, we run the risk of not being rigorous enough in guarding against those tendencies. Recent events in Australia have underlined the importance and value of taking responsibility for actions in the past and, by extension, the importance of taking care how we progress into the future.”

Leach is known for his exquisitely rendered paintings that reference the techniq

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Biography:

Sam Leach was, and indeed still is, an out and out Rock'n'Roll fan.
In 1957 he organised a night for The Blue Diamonds. During the interval he put his records on an old dusty turntable and when he saw the kids bopping around the small garage that served as a meeting place, Sam knew where his future lay. Promoting.

He told me he got greater pleasure putting shows on than performing onstage… even with The Beatles.

Sam launched his first full time promotion at the historic St George's Hall in the City centre. With wildly fluctuating results, Sam continued his merry way toward his destiny - meeting The Beatles on 10th January 1961.

Sam famously organised "Operation Big Beat" at the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, November 10th 1961. Headlining on that first night were The Beatles alongside Gerry and the Pacemakers, Kingsize Taylor and the Dominoes, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes and The Remo Four. Around 4,300 fans pack into the Tower Ballroom for the first in a series of Sam Leach's " Operation Big Beat" shows.

For almost two years he was swept along on a rol