B. 1924-2006

Robert Grieve was a renowned Australian painter, printmaker, and educator whose distinctive style placed him among the first generation of Australian abstract artists. Born in Brighton, Melbourne, he studied lithography at Regent Polytechnic in London, and further honed his craft in Japan.

Grieve's career, which spanned five decades, set him apart from his contemporaries and friends such as Fred Williams, John Olsen, and Sam Fullbrook. He drew inspiration from diverse sources, including the tonal traditions of Max Meldrum, the dynamic compositions of Stanislaus Rapotec, and the spiritual abstraction of Antoni Tàpies. His travels through the USSR, China, Cuba, and Japan deeply influenced his art, which embraced rhythmic abstraction and a quest for spiritual expression.

Grieve exhibited extensively, with over 50 shows in Australia and abroad, and won numerous awards, including the Vizard-Wholohan Print Prize and the Cato Prize. He also served as president of the Victorian branch of the Contemporary Art Society from 1967 to 1987.

His works are represented in major collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the Queensland Art Gallery. In 2010, his personal printing press was donated to Monash University, where it continues to inspire future artists. Grieve’s legacy endures through his unique contribution to Australian modern art, blending abstraction with spiritual depth and cross-cultural influences.

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