B. 1908-1981

Harley Cameron Griffiths was an accomplished Australian painter best known for his refined still-life and landscape works, deeply rooted in the tonal tradition of his father. Born in New South Wales in 1908, Griffiths studied in Melbourne under Archibald Colquhoun, where he honed the technical precision and tonal subtlety that would define his practice.

The son of Harley Griffiths Senior (who studied at the National Gallery School and shared a studio with Max Meldrum) Griffiths inherited a legacy of tonalism and rigorous technique. This lineage is evident in his meticulous brushwork and orchestration of light, qualities that connect him to the mid-century Australian modernists who sought emotional resonance through careful modulation of form and hue.

In 1956, Griffiths was appointed as a Conservator of Paintings at the National Gallery of Victoria, a role that reflects his deep technical knowledge and lifelong dedication to the craft of painting. His expertise in pigment, surface, and preservation enriched not only his conservation work but also his own art practice, imbuing his canvases with clarity, control, and quiet sophistication.

Though not widely known in the public eye, Griffiths's work reveals an intimate understanding of stillness and subtlety. His paintings evoke mood through restraint, and his nuanced approach to tone and structure marks him as a key figure in the lineage of Australian tonal painting.

For a more in-depth biography of this artist, click here.