Demand has been voracious. The larger works sold for A$4,500 (US$2,920) and the smaller pieces for A$1,500, many of them imitating the 200 or so tattoos covering Read's body. The State Library of Victoria bought a self-portrait.
"The work is genuinely interesting. It is very bright and colorful which surprises most people as they expect him to be dark," Chapman said.
Read is delighted by the success of the exhibition and by the way his life is panning out. He is using his "Chopper" trademark to launch a string of new projects including a wine label and a DVD of his stand-up show and has several new books planned.
He says he has no regrets about his criminal past. Now living in his home town of Melbourne, he is married for a second time, to childhood sweetheart Margaret, with his second child due in October.
"I'm just very glad all that is over. I don't mix with criminals any more. I don't carry a gun. So many people I have known are now dead and every day above ground is a good day for me," said Read.
"Every now and then my own life does dumbfound me. But then I expect we're all a bit surprised at the way our lives turn out."
RSS