“Beauty is essential to our lives, resonating positively with our soul; an antidote to todays existential crisis… this is the art I create.”

Richard Payne (1957 -) was born in Melbourne Australia.

An autodidactic artist exploring his own artistic pathway with deep interests in aesthetics, beauty, mythology, the Transcendental, Magik and the Spiritual journey.

Payne’s artwork is for seekers of beautiful artwork with a deep intellectual & spiritual content and hangs in private collections in Europe, UK, USA and Australia.

Initially Payne trained in the studio of Robert W Gill and later classical realism at The Florence Academy of Art (Italy). He has taught and lectured in Europe, USA and Australia currently at the University of Melbourne and his Atelier studio.

Exploring the universal collective unconscious of shared experiences of beauty, elation, aesthetics, energy and movement, Payne’s strikingly original visual vocabulary synthesises ancient and modern forms being expressed across a range of media including: Oil paint, Virtual Reality (HTC Vive), Augmented Reality (accessed via ‘Payne’s 4D AR-T’ App), digital, pastel, pen & ink, water colour, print making and sculpture.

“Artists have the power of creation. I choose to bring beautiful, intellectual objects into the world.”

An outspoken supporter of the importance of beauty and intellect in art, Payne’s philosophy is a synthesis of his classical training, modernist sympathies, interest in the transcendental and quest for beauty.

“Art at its highest is a physical, cross-cultural gateway to the transcendental that can bringing us closer to the Divine.”

This considered foundation guides him to create art that communicates emotion and narrative with an intellectual depth; inviting the viewer to become immersed, leave reality behind and contemplate higher thoughts. 

Seeking to push the art conversation forward in both the public and private realms, Payne often references ancient myths and wisdom from many cultures, Magick, spirituality, philosophy and original thought, expressed through energy, movement and colour.

Working in collaboration with tech company Taylors, composers and musicians, Payne often explores a new visual language through the union of traditional media and Virtual Reality.

“Augmented Reality enables a hidden narrative to my work. The artwork is no longer passive. Uninvited it reaches out through a non tangible dimension, bridging into our world, breaking the barrier between the ‘fantasy’ space where art exists and the ‘real’ space the viewer inhabits. The viewer is enveloped, enticed into a fertile new world”

Payne usually exhibits every two years, most recently a solo show at the Victorian Artists Society, a Virtually Reality installation at Melbourne Fringe 2019, the Melbourne Grand Prix 2019 and a 22 metre AR installation titled: ‘Unity’ on the lawn of the Arts Centre Melbourne (which can still be viewed through the AuraVista AR app).

Payne has taught perspective, composition, drawing and various media techniques in many venues including: Florence Italy, New York Metro FAA Academy, San Francisco Golden Gate Academy, University of Melbourne School of Architecture & Design.

Payne is a sought after public speaker for keynote presentations, lectures, talks and interviews discussing such topics as; the importance of art in todays world, digital art, beauty and the spiritual in art.

Initially, trained as an Architectural Draftsman, then in the private studio of Robert W Gill, Architectural Illustrator, educator and author of Thames & Hudsons Basic & Creative Perspective, Rendering with Pen & Ink.

Payne went on to practice in Architectural Illustration, then Graphic Design and Data Graphical Design whilst continuing to study and pursue fine art.   

Studied classical realist painting at the Florence Academy of Art (Italy) and taught Perspective for the Artist as master-classes for art academy students in Italy and USA.

For Payne, teaching “gives back” to the art community and he continues to teach at the University of Melbourne (Australia) and his Atelier studio whilst also delivering key note lectures and master-classes on various topics around the world.

International RealXR Awards 2020: Finalist Best AR Artist (Unity AR)

Reality Paradox 2019 : Solo AR enhanced Exhibition. Victorian Artists Society

Melbourne Fringe Festival 2019 : Arts Centre Melbourne AR Installation

The Arts Centre Melbourne (ACM): Solo Installation

Grand Prix Melbourne 2018 & 19: Solo Virtual Reality Exhibition

Hall & Wilcox: Group Exhibition

Victorian Artists Society: Solo Exhibition

Victorian Artists Society: Portraiture Group Exhibition

Melbourne Savage Club: Group Exhibition

Victorian Artists Society: Group Exhibition

Artists against fracking: GroupExhibition

Camberwell Art Show: Group Exhibition

Daylesford Art Show: Group Exhibition

Convent Art Gallery: Solo Exhibition

Bendigo Art Show: Group Exhibition