Carl Gopal (aka Gopalkrishnan) is a self-taught painter working in acrylic, mixed media and photography.  He was born in the UK in 1967 and has lived in Australia ever since, working alternatively between Perth and Melbourne. His Indian and Chinese heritage has had a strong bearing on his interest in spiritualism, mythology and questions around consciousness.

After studying design and typography in the 80’s, Carl worked in a small experimental art space in Perth. He learnt to paint with support from the artists in his community. Later he studied Sociology and History at university and three years of a PhD at Melbourne University which he withdrew from to focus on his painting. Throughout his career he has worked in various jobs supporting communities to fund his art practice.

He hasn’t taken the traditional road in his art and cites many influences including Street Art, Surrealism, Primitive, Outsider and Naïve Art.  Spiritual questions have led him to look at both the moral and legal aspects of killing in combat, changing political narratives and how today’s world mirrors the mythological archetypes of our past.


Since 2001 his work has reoriented towards better understanding our consciousness and how it is changing. His 2006 exhibition, Sedition and Other Bedtime Stories was a child’s exploration of anti-terrorism legislation in Australia and a journey through the hidden symbols  embedded within political rhetoric. He has also looked at the way developments in physics are changing our internal narratives.


These themes weave together throughout his new series of paintings, My Own Private Weltanschauung, which delves further into contemporary myth-making using the metaphor of the chanson de geste (French medieval epic poetry) and the Hollywood musical. The literary imagination becomes, not an escape from ‘reality’ or an opposite of scientific thought, but one of multiple worlds or realities that we choose to blueprint our futures. When we take the poetry out of public life, we loose the qualities which sculpt resilient and compassionate leaders. The portraits are more psycho-spiritual portraits of a political leaders’ inner life, than a social portrait. They are blueprints for decision-making for those whose literacy of the imagination matters.

His work is often sought after by experimental art and literary journals such as Front Magazine in Vancouver, Canada; Indonesian arts and culture magazine Drexter (2009); New York literary and arts journal Literal Latte (2009); and the UK’s leading queer literary journal Chroma Journal (2009).

Photograhy by Darren Clayton

Select Exhibitions 1987 - present

• 2008 We'll Always Have Paris - bent tales from the sub-atomic, Keith+Lottie Gallery, Perth, WA. Opening January 16-February 1 (solo).
• 2007 The Beauty of Physics, inaugural art prize exhibition, Dept of Physics, University of Waterloo, Canada, June (group).
• 2007 RELOCATED: A Keith and Lottie Retrospective, Breadbox Gallery, Perth, WA. (Artrage Festival) November 16, Perth, WA (group).
• 2007 American Caricature: An Exhibit of Political Cartoons - A World View of the United States by 34 political cartoonists, Three Rivers Arts Festival Gallery (TRAF), Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Sept 14 - Oct 20 (group).
• 2007 Reflex: An Exhibit of Political Cartoons: A World View of the United States CUNY Graduate Center, New York City April 26-28 (group).
• 2006 Sedition and Other Bedtime Stories, Keith and Lottie Gallery, Northbridge (solo)

Private Studio Exhibitions
• August 2002 Melbourne, Victoria
• August 2000 Perth, Western Australia
• July 1995 Sydney, New South Wales

• 1994 Bridge Gallery at the Maltings, Northbridge, WA (group).
• 1994 WA New Horizons, Margaret River Galleries, Margaret River (group).
• 1994 Artists and Artisans, The Old Church Gallery, Fremantle (group).
• 1993 Figuring the Figure, Agora Gallery, Soho, NY, USA (group).
• 1992 Matilda Bay Art Awards Exhibition, Perth WA (group).
• 1992 Protruding Pieces Sculpture, Bridge Gallery, Northbridge WA (group).
• 1992 The Portrait Show, Bridge Gallery, Northbridge, WA (group).
• 1992 Dualities, Bridge Gallery, Northbridge, WA (solo).
• 1992 The Old Church Gallery, Fremantle, WA Group Show (group).
• 1991 Matilda Bay Art Awards, Perth WA (group).
• 1991 St Hilda's Art Prize Exhibition, Mosman Park, WA (group).
• 1991 Carl Gopal Solo, Bridge Gallery, Northbridge, WA (solo).
• 1990 Matilda Bay Art Awards Exhibition, Perth WA (group).
• 1989 Arrive Without Travelling, Kings Ambassador Hotel, Perth. WA. (group).
• 1987 Look See Touch-Studio exhibition - textile arts (group).