Birds recur throughout Brett Whiteley’s work. As a child, he would steal eggs from nests and as an adult, paint them in his work. Forever moving around, he often thought of the flight paths of birds, his representations of them tinged with yearning for freedom and domestic stability.

‘Silver Eye’ is a portrait of a bird. Perched upon a eucalyptus branch, this nimble creature is a work of art — a burst of life, poised to fly away. Whiteley’s mastery of movement and composition, as well as his interest in Japanese printmaking beams forth.

Among Australia’s most celebrated artists, Whiteley won the Art Gallery of NSW Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes several times. ‘Silver Eye’ is a highly collectable screenprint that will sing in any collection.
 

Brett WHITELEY (1939 - 1992)
'Silver Eye' 1988
Colour screenprint on paper
Edition of 75
Image Size: 76 x 75 cm
Signed: signed, titled and numbered in margin

Literature: Brett Whiteley: The Graphics 1961-1992, Deutscher Fine Art, Melbourne, 1995, cat. no. 100 (illustrated, another impression)

Condition: Excellent
 
© Brett Whiteley / Copyright Agency 2023