Pete Groves: Tree Stories 2026

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Melbourne artist, Pete Groves spent much of his childhood kicking around outside in paddocks, mingling with a menagerie of animals on the outskirts of the Yarra Valley.

Pete embarked on a journey of travel and experiences, including spending several years in Mexico where he developed a deep appreciation for storytelling and symbolism in the work of Mexican artists which became a significant influence on his own artistic approach.

'As an artist, I've always relished the challenge of turning a blank canvas into something with life, curiosity and contemplation. Each painting is a story, made up from a collection of experiences and visual memories, sometimes just a fleeting moment. I enjoy taking elements of nature and playing with the composition, layering, simplifying and stylising to create my own narrative, sometimes intersecting nature, people and animals and representing the subtle impacts they have on each other and how they blend together.' - Pete Groves

Pete Groves completed a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design at Swinburne Institute of Technology in 1989. His work is represented in private collections in Australia, the USA, Japan and London, including the BHP Billiton London collection, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Subiaco, WA, Southern Health Art Gallery and Monash Medical Centre in Victoria.