Skip to main content

James Gleeson

Several of my works have titles taken from paintings by the late and great Australian surrealist James Gleeson (1915-2008).

He not only created fascinating visual imagery – I am particularly intrigued by many works from the last ten years or so of his life – but he also had a particular way with words when it came to selecting names…

So far I have been unable to resist borrowing titles from these five works, and I strongly suspect that in the future I will draw inspiration from others as well.

Eden Adjusted by Climate Change

piccolo, piano, 2 percussion, strings.
2025: 10 mins approx.

Eden Adjusted by Climate Change by James Gleeson
© Gleeson O’Keefe Foundation (used by permission)

Something Will Be

[1st movement of On the Verge of Becoming or standalone work]
percussion, harp, piano, viola.
2020: 8 mins approx.

Something Will Be by James Gleeson
© Gleeson O’Keefe Foundation (used by permission)

Dancing to the Tremors of Time

piano.
2017: 24 mins approx.

Dancing to the Tremors of Time by James Gleeson
© Gleeson O’Keefe Foundation (used by permission).

Tentative Calm

for 2 percussion [assorted instruments]
2014 rev. 2024: 4 mins. 30 secs. approx.

Tentative Calm by James Gleeson
© Gleeson O’Keefe Foundation (used by permission)

Figuration in Search of Identity

for 1,2, or 4 percussionists [assorted instruments]
2011 rev. 2025: 29 mins. approx.

Figuration in Search of Identity by James Gleeson
© Gleeson O’Keefe Foundation (used by permission)