This new series marks Dickens' return to the ‘harnessed scribble’: what was once a spontaneous gesture of carefree abandon becomes a controlled, contained, captured version of the original expression, struggling to exist beyond the picture plane. Range Anxiety explores the fear of ‘running out’—of time, space, or ability—before reaching a desired destination, whether physical, emotional, social, or political.
Joel Dickens, born in London, earned his Fine Art BA(Hons) at the Cumbria School of Art. After living and exhibiting in London, he moved to Sydney in 2003. He has been represented by Arthouse Gallery and Piermarq Gallery and was named one of Australia’s “most collectible artists” by The Australian in 2021. His most recent solo exhibition was held at Dickerson Gallery in 2023. Dickens' work blends expressionistic gesture with minimalist restraint, creating a metaphor for the human condition and the challenges of contemporary life.