Before opening his own space in late 2004, Bruce Heiser worked with respected Brisbane based art dealer Philip Bacon AM for eight years, between 1996 and 2004.
From November 2004 through to December 2017 Heiser Galleries represented and exhibited a diverse and engaging group of artists whose practice encompassed a variety of media including photography, painting and print making, ceramics, and sculpture.
The gallery also dealt in secondary market works, with particular emphasis placed on the work of expressionist Jon Molvig along with other historically significant Queensland artists. The gallery curated a major survey exhibition of Molvig’s work – Jon Molvig: A Queensland Modern and later, in 2016, Bruce curated an absorbing and well received survey show examining the work of prominent Australian naïve artists – Wide Eyed: Australian and Queensland Naïves featuring major paintings by James Fardoulys, Charles Callins, Sam Byrne and Bill Yaxley.
With the closure of the gallery space in December 2017, the business was rebranded as Bruce Heiser Projects. This reconfiguration led to a leaner assembly of artists, with exhibitions held in less formal surrounds. The business continues its valuation, advisory and research services for clients.
Bruce’s interest in secondary market pictures by Queensland based artists has seen him place major works executed by Jon Molvig, Ian Fairweather, Vida Lahey, Noel Wood, James Fardoulys, Charles Callins and William Bustard in institutional and distinguished private collections Australia wide, and he continues to source and deal in works by these artists.
Bruce completed a Bachelor of Arts (Double Major, Classics and Ancient History) from University of Queensland in 1988. He served as Queensland State Chair, Australian Commercial Galleries Association between November 2007 and November 2012, and sat on the organisation’s national board during that period. He has acted as a mentor to disadvantaged artists through the Wesley Mission’s initiative Art from the Margins and between 2010 and 2018 was a member of the Queensland Regional Committee, The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.
Bruce has been a registered valuer under the Commonwealth Government’s Cultural Gifts Program since March 2005.
