David Marsden - “Reporting in” - New Work
David Marsden is a senior Tasmanian artist whose career has included creating paintings, prints, drawings, and designing objects such as music stands, lamps, and book boxes.
His work has been noted by curators and the public for its use of colour and formal abstract qualities and in 2023 saw a celebration exhibition Mason : Marsden at QVMAG.
Marsden's paintings and constructions focus on elements of joy and energy. He is recognized as a Tasmanian artist.
In 2025, his work was highly commended as a finalist at the Glover Prize.
Throughout his career, Marsden has exhibited throughout Tasmania and nationally, receiving recognition for his approach that combines traditional techniques with contemporary methods.
‘Reporting In’, at Blenheim Gallery, Longford. October 2025.
This Exhibition is an overview of my activities in the studio over the last couple of years. There has been no attempt to isolate a theme, although there are clear links between works in each of the three categories.
1. A Number of Works on Paper (three framed).
I will call them drawings, which are made from a variety of materials, watercolour, pastel, ink and collage elements. These works are often light and spontaneous, a bit scratchy and contain elements which recur time and again in my recent work.
2. Small Paintings.
Much of 2025 has been spent making small stretchers using a 3d printed element (I was a bit obsessed developing it, but it was fun, and I am cured). This has led in turn to a large number of small works on canvas. Fifteen have made it into this exhibition. I used a limited palette of acrylic paint and occasional bits of oil paint which has resulted in paintings which I feel are rather like silkscreens or lithographs. The surfaces are flatter; there are more transparent layers at work and there are fewer elements jostling for attention.
3. Four Large Works on Canvas.
Two not previously shown, and two which have been included in landscape competition exhibitions in Tasmania. ‘Firebreaks’, the largest of the four, was awarded a bronze medallion in the 2025 Glover Prize, and quite a few outraged comments on the Glover Prize Facebook page (“Glover would be turning in his grave!", and, "My Five-year-old"...etc), which have been balanced in turn by appreciative comments by my peers!
I hope you enjoy the show.
David Marsden