John Bates is a painter whose striking, delineated composition are characterised by flat planes and vivid colour.
Through the use of a minimal palette emphasising the two-dimensional surface, the work plays with ordinary perception of landscapes and seascapes. His process involves creating a dense surface by repeated application of acrylic colour. Bates has presented three solo exhibitions at Arts Project in 2000, 2006 and 2020. He has been featured in numerous group exhibitions. His public collections include the National Gallery of Victoria and Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery. His work is also held in national and international private and corporate collections.