The Man Behind Reg Mombassa

The entrance to the Mambo exhibition at aMBUSH GALLERY. In the background is part of the "Millennial Wallscape" a Reg Mombassa mural commissioned to celebrate the recent 40th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House. It was painted on a construction hoarding for a building site in the Opera House's southern forecourt. Courtesy of aMBUSH Gallery

SYDNEY—All artists are nutcases, beggars and addicts, but they are also minor deities says Reg Mombassa.

In true form Mombassa, the iconic artist most seen in larrikin surf wear company Mambo, is outrageous, irreverent and provocative, but on meeting him under his real name Chris O'Doherty, he is softly spoken, thoughtful and self-effacing.

Artists have to rely on others to buy their works for a living, he said by way of explanation. They are addicted to the creative process and live on the fringe of conformity ... and the minor deity?

“The only true gods on Earth are artists, because they create beautiful things from nothing,” he says with a wry grin.

The man behind Reg Mombassa, Chris O'Doherty, in front of one of his artworks on display at the exhibition 'Mambo: 30 years of Shelf-Indulgence' at aMBUSH Gallery in Sydney. Shar Adams/Epoch Times