Joseph Brown

HOME > ART & MUSEUMS > ARCHIVES 2009 >

Clifton Pugh, Black Cockatoos in Arnhem Land, 1980.

POSTED: 26 AUGUST 2009

QUT honours Clifton Pugh with printmaking exhibition*

Painter Clifton Pugh (1924-1990), well known for his portraits of politicians and other public figures, was also an expert printmaker — an aspect being celebrated with a major exhibition of his prints at QUT Art Museum until October 25.

Clifton Pugh: Printmaker brings together a substantial selection of extraordinary prints by the artist, showcasing an area of his practice that is often overlooked.

Pugh had become known for both his landscapes and portraiture, winning the Archibald prize in 1965 for a portrait of RAG Henderson, in 1971 for a portrait of Sir John McEwan and in 1972 for his portrait of Gough Whitlam.

The artist has also won many other prizes Australiawide throughout his career including an Order of Australia in 1995, and at the 75th Anniversary of the Gallipoli landing in 1990, Pugh was named the Australian War Memorial’s official artist.

Pugh has used a variety of different printmaking techniques which gave him the freedom to investigate different ideas and techniques beyond painting and QUT Art Museum Acting Curator Megan Williams says the exhibition presents a wide range of subject matter.

“It includes mythology such as Leda and the Swan and the bush and desert, as well as a diversity of printmaking techniques including monoprinting, lithography, etching and screen printing,” she said.

Pugh was also an environmentalist and was inspired by the natural environment. His house at Dunmoochin was an animal sanctuary and he often used funds raised from the sale of his prints to aid conservation and environmental causes.

One year before he died (1989) he set up the Dunmoochin Foundation to preserve the bushland and enable other artists to use the studios.

*Based on media release issued by the QUT Art Museum.

[RETURN TO TOP]

HOME > ART & MUSEUMS > ARCHIVES 2009 >