Laurie Burgess isn't your typical delivery driver. For the past two decades, this dedicated art courier has been crisscrossing Australia in his specially equipped van, transporting paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and drawings to galleries, collectors, and art competitions nationwide. His unique profession has given him an unparalleled view of the Australian contemporary art scene, though it's also creating an unexpected obstacle to his homeownership dreams.
Burgess covers an extraordinary one million kilometers every four years, working grueling 16-hour days as he travels between Perth and Hobart, and up Australia's east coast as far north as Noosa. His extensive travels have made him an informal authority on the Australian art world. "This is not me blowing my own trumpet, but there is no one person that sees as many galleries as myself or as many artists as myself," Burgess explained. Gallery owners and artists frequently call him for insights about contemporary art trends and market conditions.
The demanding nature of his work goes beyond simple transportation. Burgess has become a source of emotional support for the artists whose work he handles. "There's a lot of emotion in art. A lot of artists can be rather anxious at times and so you've got to sort of help them to keep their spirits up," he noted. His role proved particularly valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many in the art world feared sales would plummet. Burgess maintained an optimistic outlook, reasoning that people stuck at home staring at their walls might be motivated to purchase artwork to decorate them. His prediction proved accurate, as art sales remained surprisingly strong during the lockdown period.
Allanah Dopson, owner of Handmark Gallery in Hobart, emphasized the essential service Burgess provides to the Australian art community. "It's really good for artists to enter interstate prizes and to get recognition and get their art out there. So, Laurie fills that void really well," she said. Dopson and others in the industry are consistently amazed by Burgess's extensive travels. "We are in awe of Laurie each time he comes and says, 'Oh, I've been across the Nullarbor' or, 'Yesterday I was in Sydney.'" His ability to move artwork across the vast Australian continent enables artists to participate in competitions and exhibitions they otherwise couldn't access.
Burgess's lifestyle requires significant personal sacrifices. He spends most of the year on the road, taking time off only during January and Easter. To save money toward his goal of buying his first home, he has retrofitted his van with a custom sleeping area, complete with a comfortable mattress, comforters, and electric blankets. This setup allows him to avoid hotel costs while maintaining his demanding schedule. "[I can] pull over, crawl into it, no time lost, no time wasted," he explained. However, the mobile lifestyle has its challenges, particularly during winter months when he finds himself "driving around finding different places to freeze to death, such as out on the Nullarbor or Yass."
Despite his determination to save for a house, Burgess faces an unexpected complication: his growing personal art collection. Over the years of handling countless artworks, he has developed both appreciation and expertise, leading to occasional purchases that his accountant views with concern. "I do end up buying a little bit [of art]. My accountant said to me I have to stop doing that or I will never have a house to hang them in," Burgess admitted. His artistic taste, which he describes as "nickelodeon," gravitates toward primary colors, bright hues, and dynamic movement across various mediums including glass, ceramics, paintings, and pastels.
Burgess's collection includes works from emerging artists, such as small pencil and colored pen drawings from a developing artist in Robe, South Australia, which he describes as "perfect kitchen drawings." His journey from someone who "never really knew much about art" to a knowledgeable collector reflects the transformative power of sustained exposure to Australia's diverse artistic landscape. While rising house prices and his continued art purchases have delayed his homeownership goals, Burgess remains committed to his unique career path.
For now, his growing art collection remains in storage, waiting for the day when he can finally "pull over for a while" and settle into the home he's working so hard to achieve. Until then, he continues his vital role as Australia's premier art courier, connecting artists, galleries, and collectors across the continent while inadvertently building one of the most diverse contemporary art collections in the country.
