Sean Whelan - Magical Thinking

Sean Whelan
Showcase Exhibition
Outré Gallery Fitzroy
20 Mar - 12 Apr 2026

Sean Whelan is an Australian artist based in Hobart, Tasmania. Specialising in acrylic painting, he creates hyper-coloured surreal compositions that merge figuration, symbolism and theatrical design. His influences range from 17th-century European Baroque painting to the Japanese Superflat movement.

Born in Melbourne in 1981, Whelan exhibits in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan.

Artist Statement

Magical thinking is a familiar habit: the tendency to turn experiences into a story, reshaping something complex so meaning becomes easier to hold.

In this body of work, I draw on this idea to depict a series of staged scenes. Figures wear masks and costumes that assign them roles – preparing for rituals, dancing, performing music and playing out transformative rites.

Some look joyful, others reluctant, grotesque or monstrous. And while there is an underlying absurdity to these activities, the figures are invested in what they are doing. The performances are sincere, even when the logic behind them is unclear.

Fantasy offers a promise – a role, a decisive action and the sense that something will be resolved. Magical Thinking grew from an interest in how easily this structure is adopted, rehearsed, and believed.

Take a look at Sean's previous solo show Parade! (2024).