Australian artist Brett Whiteley (1939-1992) was in the forefront of Australia's avant-garde art movement with what has been described as his lyrical expressionism and lack of inhibition. The recipient of a number of prizes and awards, his work hangs in numerous galleries including the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, the Tate Gallery in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He was awarded the Order of Australia (General Division) in 1991.
Date and Place of Birth: April 7, 1939, in Sydney. He grew up in the riverside suburb of Longuevile, northwest of Sydney city centre.
First Art Prize: In 1946, at age 7, won the annual RSPCA exhibition at Farmer's Blaxland Gallery for The driver sits in the Shade but what about the horse?
Education: Boarding school at Scots College, Bathurst, from 1948.
Scots College, Sydney, 1954-55.
Night classes in drawing at the Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney, late 1950s.
Occasionally drew in life drawing class at National Art School, East Sydney.
Scots College, Sydney, 1954-55.
Night classes in drawing at the Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney, late 1950s.
Occasionally drew in life drawing class at National Art School, East Sydney.
Marriage: Met Wendy Julius in late 1950s at National Art School, East Sydney. Married Wendy Julius in 1962 in London. Divorced in 1989.
Overseas Travel: Traveled, stayed and worked in Europe, the United States, Asia and the South Pacific.
Major Art Prizes:
1964: International Drawings Prize for Bather and heater, International der Zeichnung, Darmstadt, Germany.
1976: Archibald prize for Self-portrait in the studio. Sir John Sulman Prize for Interior with Time Past (genre painting).
1977: Wynne Prize for The Jacaranda Tree (On Sydney Harbour)
Date and Place of Death: Died at Thirroul on the New South Wales South Coast on June 15, 1992, at the age of 53. His death was attributed to heroin overdose with the coroner returning a verdict of "death due to self-administered substances."
