I’m a painter… a pop artist! [Romeo's next Sydney show, Deadwood, opens at NG Art Gallery on Tuesday August 13.]
Why do you do it?
Because I don’t really feel I have a choice. It’s something I always wanted to do. It’s something I dreamt about doing as a kid.
What do you love about the city you live in?
I love Sydney’s creative energy. It definitely has a pulse! I also spend a fair bit of time in Los Angeles but I find Sydney far more genuinely innovative. There’s a real creative freshness about this city. Far more people I meet in Sydney are doing something creative…. there’s definitely a buzz!
Where did you go for your last holiday?
I don’t really take holidays. I’m fortunate enough to have shows in many different cities and countries around the world…. so usually I travel to those places for my openings and shows. But it’s not all work! I tend to stay a few weeks usually catching up with friends. My last working holiday was in April this year in Milan. I’m back off to LA in September!
What's your favourite item of clothing?
Why? I tend to buy multiples of my favorite items of clothing. So if it’s a pair of black stretch jeans… I’ll buy like 3 pairs! I don’t have any clue why I do it. At the moment, I’m really into my recycled vintage short waisted black leather jacket I got from Cream on King Street in Newtown. I’ve actually got like 3 of them, just in case. In case of what? I can’t work it out!
What was your favourite TV show when you were a kid?
Definitely The Brady Bunch. Tell me what kid didn’t want to be part of that family?
If you could travel back in time for a day, where would you go?
Apollo 11 and the moon landing! That would have been an awesome day. Just to have seen the excitement and wonderment of the lunar landing… the tension and anticipation… that would have been super… even if it was fake and filmed in a Hollywood studio, complete with props, astronaut costumes and intricate lighting setups!
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook for us?
I won’t be home! I’d definitely be in my studio painting! I don’t really cook! I don’t really have time for cooking. So if you were in fact coming over… I’d need to definitely organise something. Maybe get some Thai take away! Set it all up, you know, on plates, to give you the impression I was busy all day cooking!
What's the best lesson you've ever learned?
If you live to 75 and you sleep 8 hours a day, you would have slept 25 years of your life! Sleep when you’re dead!
Tell us one thing about yourself that nobody else knows...
I was hit by 2 cars whilst growing up… one at the age of 6 and one at the age of 11. They were both fairly major accidents.
Are you happy with your work/life balance?
No, not really! My life is my work. I work 8 hours a day, 7 days a week in my studio. Then there’s endless other related stuff that needs to always be done. The balance isn’t right but then again I have deadlines with galleries and art dealers. Everybody needs works yesterday! It’s chaotic but I find much happiness in working through it all on a day-to-day basis!
How do you define success?
Living the dream! Living the dream that you always imagined could be possible! The dream you chased from a very young age…. the very same one you eventually caught and now don’t want to ever let go! That’s how I’d define success!
What's your spirit animal?
Seriously, I’m a different one everyday! I start my day off every day by picking a power animal oracle card for guidance from animal spirit guides. Today it was a raven… the message said, 'Own Your Power'.
