Oscar Perry (born 1988, Kent, UK) is a Melbourne-based artist whose energetic studio practice focuses primarily on abstract painting characterised by a great diversity and pace of mark-making often combined with composite materials. The work occupies a decidedly three-dimensional space as well as the less-tactile space of language in the motivation of its painterly gesture. Tableau of objects both artistmade and readymade carry themes within Perry's exhibitions. These parallel forms open the door to comedic scenarios that function as imprimature to painting's higher claims.
Oscar Perry exhibited in the 2023 Småland triennial 2023, Sweden, and in 2019, at Ve.Sch, Vienna in the group exhibition Saltbox Catslide Roof. In 2016, he was included in the landmark survey exhibition of contemporary Australian painting, Painting. More Painting, curated by Max Delany, Annika Kristensen and Hannah Mathews at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne.
Curatorial projects include DAS BOOT: Artist Car Boot Fair (co-produced with fellow artist, Esther Stewart) at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, Beach Marvin III (launched February 2018) at Crazy Arms, Melbourne, Coq au Vin, an exhibition space with an internationally-focused program in an outdoor chicken coup in Daylesford in regional Victoria (since 2015) and the original Das Boot Fair, an art fair with over forty artists in an outdoor carpark in North Melbourne as part of Next Wave Festival (with Esther Stewart) (2014).
Perry was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) by the Victorian College of the Arts, the University of Melbourne in 2009 and a Postgraduate Diploma, Fine Art (Painting) by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne in 2012.