PETER GILES

PROJECT ROOM

Exhibition dates : 22 September - 4 October 2026
Opening reception : Wed 23 September 2026, 6:00 - 8:30pm

The Life of Still Life

Still life has always been more than the arrangement of objects. For me, it is a way of exploring the ideas that ordinary things can carry—memory, craftsmanship, generosity, faith, and the quiet dignity of everyday life. A loaf of bread, a flower, a simple vessel or a piece of fabric becomes a starting point for a deeper conversation about what we value and what endures.

Each painting begins with careful observation but is guided by a search for meaning through light, composition and the expressive qualities of paint itself. My hope is that these works encourage viewers to pause, look more closely, and discover that the ordinary is rarely ordinary.

Peter Giles is a Melbourne-based Australian artist whose practice focuses on traditional still-life painting. His work explores memory, history and the quiet stories held within everyday objects. Through careful observation, rich colour and attention to light, texture and detail, Giles transforms familiar subjects into thoughtful and atmospheric compositions. His paintings celebrate the beauty of the ordinary while reflecting on the stories and experiences objects can carry.