Gold Coast art community mourns beloved local artist Dean Cogle after passing just days before final gallery opening

The Gold Coast’s art community is in mourning after one of its key figures Dean Cogle passed away just days before his final exhibition opened.

The Gold Coast’s art community is mourning the loss of artist Dean Cogle. Photo: Supplied

THE Gold Coast art community is mourning the passing of Dean Cogle, who died just days before the launch of his latest exhibition.

The talented artist was aged 61.

The Dean Cogle: Beyond Nostalgia exhibition is running at the Home of the Arts (HOTA), Bundall, until June 30.

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Pictured here in 2005, Dean was a well known figure among the Coast’s art community. PicWayne/Jones

Mr Cogle was born in West Auckland in 1957. He was the only son and middle child of three to Barry and Dorothy Cogle, who noticed his talent for drawing when he was four years old.

He shared with her an interest in cooking and would stand on a chair from age six to watch her prepare dinner. She said he would always let her know if she missed an ingredient.

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He had a fascination with bugs and creepy crawlies, making pets of wild mice and keeping tadpoles in the laundry tub. He learned to surf on Auckland west coast and was a champion diver during high school.

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His art captured key places around the Gold Coast. Photo: Dean Cogle, The Cecil Hotel, 1993

But his love of the kitchen and the surf could not keep him from his true passion, and after being encouraged by a high school art teacher he moved to the Gold Coast around 1980 with four friends.

Living in a camp ground in Byron Bay, Mr Cogle sold his water colours at markets, but managed only a few sales.

Within a week of arriving in Burleigh, he was penniless. Then his luck changed.

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His work is now being featured at HOTA. Photo: Supplied

His only contact on the Gold Coast introduced him to Paul Hallas of Hot Stuff Surfboards, an iconic Coast business, and he was put to work immediately.

During his time working there Mr Cogle airbrushed boards for high-profile surfers Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, Gary “Kong” Elkerton and Tony Eltherington.

Design work for Mt Woodgee Surfboards was quick to follow.

At the Playroom nightclub a series of surfboards given away as lucky door prizes throughout the 1980s were hand-emblazoned by Mr Cogle with the names of performing bands such as Steppenwolf, Men at Work and Cold Chisel.

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Many will recognise his work in the Playroom nightclub. Photo: Dean Cogle, Miami Ice, 2010

His largest commission for the famous Gold Coast venue was its Wall of Sound mural, a midnight sky with stars and a microphone “flying through space”.

By the 1990s he had started a family and moved into graphic design, art direction, illustration, print production and graphics for surf wear.

He won an international marketing award for the Gold Coast Bulletin Wrap-Up campaign in 1990.

Mr Cogle’s gallery, Departure Lounge in Koala Park, became a space to nurture artists and build a camaraderie among the Gold Coast art community.

He worked with Home of the Arts closely in the past three decades and featured in key exhibitions including The Fibro Coast and We Are Gold Coast.

In a statement to the Bulletin, HOTA Gallery said: “The exhibition in the Foyer Gallery is testament to how Dean’s images captured the essence of the evolving Gold Coast.

“As people come to visit the exhibition, you are likely to hear how many artists he supported, worked and surfed with. It’s a timely opportunity to celebrate Dean.

“He never stopped supporting the arts community. His incredible legacy will live on.”