Reg Mombassa
Reg Mombassa (also known as Chris O'Doherty) bridges the disciplines of painting, design, music, and poetry in his prolific and ubiquitous creative practice.
Reg was born in Auckland and migrated to Australia with his family in 1969. He attended what is now the National Art School in Darlinghurst in 1969, but left the following year. He returned in 1975, obtaining his Diploma of Painting in 1977. Since 1975, Reg has exhibited his paintings, drawings, and prints at Watters Gallery in Darlinghurst.
His artwork is included in many private and public collections, including the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. He has been commissioned to complete public projects and installations, and since 1986, worked closely with Mambo Graphics. His clothing and poster designs, with a bright and cartoonish quality and elements of religious, political and pop-culture themes, are widely recognisable and iconic. As well as his career as an artist and designer, Reg has also had a successful career as a musician. In 1976 he formed the rock band Mental as Anything with four other art students; he also performs with his brother Peter in the band Dog Trumpet.
