The Incisive Mark – Michael Schlitz’s Woodcuts Open at Bett Gallery

An exploration of human experience, rendered through the ancient yet powerfully contemporary art of woodcut printmaking, is set to open at Bett Gallery on Friday June 6th, 2025.

Renowned Australian artist Michael Schlitz will unveil his latest exhibition, promising a captivating journey into the tactile and evocative world of his unique practice.

Schlitz’s work stands firmly within the tradition of woodcut printmaking, yet he imbues this venerable technique with a distinctly modern sensibility. For Schlitz, the medium is far more than a means to produce images; it is a physical, performative act of mark-making.

There is an undeniable, almost sculptural quality to Schlitz’s prints. The carved lines, intentionally rough and emphatic, serve as a testament to the arduous nature of his craft.

Central to Schlitz’s imagery are lone, elongated human figures, often depicted in ambiguous postures. These stark, symbolic forms, as seen in works like A line from the angel of truth (2025), appear to perform rituals or gestures that speak to themes of burden, balance or profound transformation.

While not always explicit, Schlitz’s work resonates with an acute awareness of the Australian landscape and cultural identity. His figures can be interpreted as archetypes navigating not just the physical world, but also the internal terrain of the self, seamlessly bridging personal mythology with broader human experience.

In this highly anticipated exhibition, Michael Schlitz powerfully reaffirms the enduring relevance of printmaking as a potent medium for introspection and intensity. His work speaks with a quiet yet profound voice, meticulously carving meaning not only into the surface of wood but into the mind of the viewer.

The exhibition opens at Bett Gallery on Friday the 6th of June, 5.30-7pm and is on display 6 to 28 June, 2025