A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne" is rendered in … A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. Th… — shown in a room setting A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne" is rendered in … A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne" is rendered in … A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "th… — artist's signature A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne" is … — edge view A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne" is ren… — detail A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne"… — shown hanging
A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne" is rendered in …
A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. Th… — shown in a room setting
A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne" is rendered in …
A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne" is rendered in …
A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "th… — artist's signature
A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne" is … — edge view
A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne" is ren… — detail
A highly textural, large-scale painting of a toilet, viewed from a slightly angled perspective. The "throne"… — shown hanging
Painting by Jamie Congdon 49 Artworks Sold

The Porcelain Sentinel

Oil, Canvas, Framed by Artist

61cm (W) x 79cm (H) x 5cm (D)

Certificate of Authenticity Included

Framed by Artist

A$850

Arrives 2–4 Aug

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Artwork Description

Following the success of a smaller award-winning work—which received Second Place at the Exhibition of Excellence—this large-scale painting, The Throne, is a visceral and highly textural study of a domestic icon. By elevating the toilet to a central subject, I am exploring the beauty of the mundane and the sculptural qualities of porcelain. The work is rendered with heavy impasto, using thick ridges of paint to capture the play of light on cold surfaces and the deep shadows of the bathroom interior.

My influence for this piece is the "Kitchen Sink Realism" movement and the Camden Town Group, both of which championed the idea that no subject is too "low" for fine art. There is a raw honesty in painting a toilet; it is a shared human reality, yet rarely depicted with such tactile reverence. By using a "high texture" approach, I’ve transformed a functional object into a monumental study of form, light, and the quiet dignity of the everyday

Artist Bio
Photo of Jamie Congdon
Jamie Congdon 160 artworks | 47 Sold

About the Artist: Jamie Congdon
The Story & The Drive
Born in Williamstown, Melbourne, Jamie Congdon was one of six children raised by his mother, Margaret, after his father was tragically lost at sea when Jamie was just an infant. Now a long-time resident of Queensland, Jamie has spent the last 35 years in Brisbane and Redcliffe, balancing his roles as a father of five, a taxi driver, and a deeply dedicated visual artist.

Jamie describes his creative drive as nearly obsessive. When he isn't behind the wheel, he is immersed in the Redcliffe Art Society Portrait Group or in his studio. His work is a "visual diary"—a candid, ongoing story of his own life, focusing on interiors and the quiet moments of his daily routine.

The Philosophy
Jamie’s practice is refreshingly direct. He avoids political, ethical, or moral agendas, believing instead that the canvas is a fresh page ready for a personal narrative. He operates under the ethos of Paul Cézanne: "True art is when the artist inserts his personality into his work." For Jamie, painting is about honesty, ambition, and the proactive pursuit of capturing one's own truth.

Education & Experience
Jamie’s creative energy is backed by high-level formal training and a massive body of work:

Master of Screen Production (Animation)

Bachelor of Fine Art – Queensland College of Art (QCA), South Bank

23 Solo Exhibitions hosted throughout his career

4-time RADF Grant recipient

3-time participant in the prestigious '15 Artists' annual exhibition

Jamie has exhibited extensively across regional galleries, including Redcliffe, Caboolture, Strathpine, and Rockhampton.

Recent Achievements & Awards
Jamie is a frequent finalist and winner in some of Australia’s most respected art prizes:

2025 – Winner, Moreton Bay Outdoor Art Prize

2024 – Winner, Exhibition of Excellence

2023 – Winner, Moreton Bay Art Prize

2022 – Winner (Still Life) & 2nd Overall, Exhibition of Excellence

2022 – Finalist, Brisbane Portrait Prize (My Flatmate)

2022 – Finalist, Salon Des Refusés (Choices, Choices)

2021 – Semi-Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize

2021 – Finalist, Salon Des Refusés (Brisbane Portrait Prize)

2021 – 1st in Still Life & 3rd Overall, Exhibition of Excellence

2020 – Finalist, Brisbane Portrait Prize

2018 – Finalist, Lyn McCrea Memorial Drawing Prize

2016 – Semi-Finalist, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize

Commissions
Jamie's studio is in Redcliffe