Chopper Read's on the canvas
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/chopper-reads-on-the-canvas/story-e6frf7kx-1226023547778
Tom McIlroy
March 18, 2011
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| Paintings by Chopper Read on display in a new exhibition. |
ALREADY an infamous crime figure and best-selling author, Mark "Chopper" Read is adding celebrated artist to his many accolades.
Invoking the biggest names of Australian crime, 22 of Read's original paintings are displayed in a new exhibition that opened last night. Read said the collection, showing at The Hogan Gallery in Collingwood, was inspired by his life of crime.
"I've been interested in painting for a few years, and I thought I should give it a go," he said. "They all have colourful characters in them."
Art lovers can snap up one of the brightly coloured originals, each signed "CHOPPER", for as little as $900. The most expensive work is priced at $3200.
Read said the value of the works would increase dramatically after his death.
"They'll be a bloody good investment for lucky punters in years to come," he said.
The controversial collection features bushranger Ned Kelly and one work called Flowers for Alphonse, inspired by slain underworld figure Alphonse Gangitano. "I planted flowers for Alphonse and I thought they'd be a good painting so I got brushes and acrylic paint and went for it," he said.
Collectors better act quickly - three of the works were snapped up by an unnamed buyer before the exhibition opened.
The exhibition runs until March 31.
