{"title":"Ian Roberts","description":"\u003ch6 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e‘The paintings are emotionally charged through their seriousness and starkness.’\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch6 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eDarrel Couturier Couturier Gallery, Los Angeles\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eAustralia’s great rugby star, now actor, Ian Roberts, was the central subject in this series. When I was painting these works, Ian was close to making his homosexuality public. It was 1995, and when he did, it attracted considerable media attention internationally. I remember feeling moved and inspired when Ian told me about the hundreds of letters he received from men thanking him for giving them the courage and inspiration to come out. Ian was the first famous gay role model I was to paint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eThe paintings’ settings I created, imagining theatre sets, and blurring the distinction between what is real and what is not. Ambiguous, like sexuality – we can’t know for sure – don't judge a book by its cover. In celebration of Ian’s newfound iconic status, I elevated him in each painting, lit with theatrical spotlights.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"set-i","title":"Set I","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e122 x 92 cm \/ 4' x 3'\u003cbr\u003eOil on board\u003cbr\u003e1995\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Sydney\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18367644205167,"sku":"OOB-SetI","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/Set_I.jpg?v=1542761638"},{"product_id":"set-ii","title":"Set II","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e100 x 100 cm \/ 3'3\" x 3'3\"\u003cbr\u003eOil on board\u003cbr\u003e1995\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Sydney\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18368059048047,"sku":"OOB-SetII","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/Set_II.jpg?v=1542761593"},{"product_id":"set-iii","title":"Set III","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e122 x 92 cm \/ 4' x 3'\u003cbr\u003eOil on board\u003cbr\u003e1995\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Melbourne\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18368372932719,"sku":"OOB-SetIII","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/Set_III.jpg?v=1542761787"},{"product_id":"set-iv","title":"Set IV","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e150 x 122 cm \/ 4'11\" x 4'\u003cbr\u003eOil on board\u003cbr\u003e1995\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Sydney\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18368829915247,"sku":"OOB-SetIV","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/Set_IV.jpg?v=1542762196"},{"product_id":"set-v","title":"Set V","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e150 x 122 cm \/ 5' x 4'\u003cbr\u003eOil on board\u003cbr\u003e1995\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eCollection, National Gallery of Victoria, Australia\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18369024917615,"sku":"OOB-SetV","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/Set_V.jpg?v=1542762386"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/collections\/SetII.jpg?v=1543475949","url":"https:\/\/sstore.rosswatson.com\/collections\/ian-roberts.oembed","provider":"Ross Watson Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}