This has been a big year for Australian art. As it comes to a close, let’s cast an eye back to the moments that hit hardest – losses, honors and new life.
Vale John Olsen
In April, Australia farewelled the great John Olsen. A force of personality and creativity, his line is inextricable from the genome of Australian art, vivifying subjects as diverse as tadpoles, Sydney Harbour, the desert and paella. In the poetry of Auguste Blackman, “And all the world will bow as one / We salute you John, our own King Sun.”
Crowds for Clarice Beckett and Cressida Campbell
This year, exhibitions on Clarice Beckett and Cressida Campbell graced Geelong Gallery and the National Gallery of Australia. Both shone light on the undersung presence of women in Australian art, drawing crowds and glowing reviews from across the country.
Clarice Beckett 'Bathing Boxes'
Welcoming Steve Leadbeater and Clayton Tremlett
At Art & Collectors, we welcomed two fresh talents into the collection, Steve Leadbeater and Clayton Tremlett. Expressive and raw, Leadbeater’s work explores the mystery of being human while Tremlett looks at Australianness. Whether the history of bushrangers or semiotics of a galah, he offers new perspectives on our history and culture.
Clayton Tremlett 'An Exploration of the Square using the Colours of a Galah #1'
Clayton Tremlett 'An Exploration of the Square using the Colours of a Galah #4'