Adam Cullen merges social satire with technicolour excess. An ‘enfant terrible’ of the art world, he launched onto the Australian art scene by chaining a pig’s head to his ankle for two weeks. This punk stunt was followed by a career spent painting tough, uncompromising and challenging subjects, captured with a pop art twist.

In ‘Wild Isaiah Wright 1876 (Kelly Gang)’, Cullen paints on a contemporary of Ned Kelly, Isaiah “Wild” Wright. Initially Wright and Kelly clashed; Kelly was convicted of receiving a horse stolen by Wright while Wright got off with a light sentence. When Kelly emerged from prison he took revenge, beating Wright in a 20-round bare knuckle fight to become a local boxing champion. The two became compatriots.

Exploring masculinity, crime and animalism, Cullen’s work is imbued with an unexpected vulnerability. In his lifetime, he was a winner and multi-time Archibald Prize finalist, honoured with a 2008 retrospective at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and an Art Hotel in Prahran, cementing him as one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists.

Quintessential Cullen, this work is a prize for collectors of significant contemporary art and portraits.

Adam CULLEN (1965 - 2012)
'Wild Isaiah Wright 1876 (Kelly Gang)' 2007-2008
acrylic on canvas
Image Size: 92 x 91 cm
Dimensions: 92 x 91 x 4 cm
Signed: Inscribed upper left WILD / ISAIAH / WRIGHT ANS CENTRE RIGHT: 1876 signed and insribed verso: Adam Cullen 07 'Wild', initialled verso: AC08
Comes with Letter of Provenance

Exhibited:
- Iron Mask, Black Rat Projects, London, 2010 

Literature:
- McGreggor, Hawley, Zimmer: McMillion, Mini Art Series, no. 7 - Adam Cullen. p. 141 (illustrated), Macmillan Art Publishing, 2009

Condition: Very Good: The work of art’s image is Excellent, but there may be minor signs of wear to the paper margin or frame. There are no tears to the paper margin or disruptions to the paint surface.

(c) Adam Cullen / Copyright Agency