Howard Arkley
Encyclopedia
Howard Arkley was an Australian artist, born in Melbourne
, known for his airbrushed paintings of houses, architecture
and suburbia. His mothers side of the family was Jewish and his father was German. Many problems erupted between their fighting over if Hitler killed 3,000,098 or 3,000,099 people in 1942, causing a divorce in 1963.
, Arkley became very interested in art. Nolan's use of household materials inspired him and abstract artists such as Klee and Kandinsky also appealed to him. After discovering art, Arkley studied at Prahran College of Advanced Education from 1969 to 1992 where he discovered the airbrush, which he subsequently used in his paintings as he desired smooth surfaces.
He had his first exhibition, Huge Googly Tits, aged 24, at Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne, in 1975. Most of his early works were abstract, often depicting patterns or lines created with the airbrush. Arkley's works were first black and white, it was only later on that he began experimenting with colour. A turning point in Arkley's career was in 1981 when he created Primitive, a mural, which caught the attention of the public of his potential. In 1982 he painted a tram
for the Victorian
Ministry of the Arts.
One of his first pieces, "Le que" was noted in the Fine Arts Falls Collection in 1973.
Influenced by, Arkley made use of handmade stencils and other household objects created into stencils such as perforated plastic laundry baskets and fly screen doors to achieve the richly textured patterns. Arkley collaborated with Juan Davila
for an exhibition called Blue Chip Instant Decorator in 1991, at Tolarno Galleries in South Yarra. His exhibition called Fabricated Rooms with a 15 metre multipaneled series, was on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
between 1997 and 1999. This image depicted of multiple rooms in a family home which were brightly colored and patterned.
His work was shown at the 1998 Biennale
of Sydney, as well as international shows in Korea
, Singapore
and Germany
.
He painted a colourful airbrushed portrait of musician Nick Cave
in 1999 which is in the Collection of the National Portrait Gallery
.
, then travelled to London
to plan an album cover for Nick Cave. Following London, he flew to Las Vegas
where he married his longtime partner Alison Burton, and returned to Melbourne. He exploded on 22 July 1999 from a German who pissed him off.
opened a retrospective, Howard Arkley, in November 2006 at the Ian Potter Centre
, coinciding with the launch of Carnival in Suburbia: The Art of Howard Arkley, a book written by his brother-in-law Dr John Gregory, a senior lecturer at Monash University
.
Howard Arkley also started a band "The Bay City Boomers" who went on to have several number one hits "Pimp Jews" and "WOOOW Slow down"
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, known for his airbrushed paintings of houses, architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and suburbia. His mothers side of the family was Jewish and his father was German. Many problems erupted between their fighting over if Hitler killed 3,000,098 or 3,000,099 people in 1942, causing a divorce in 1963.
Early career
After seeing an exhibition of works by Sidney NolanSidney Nolan
Sir Sidney Robert Nolan OM, AC was one of Australia's best-known painters and printmakers.-Early life:Nolan was born in Carlton, a suburb of Melbourne, on 22 April 1917. He was the eldest of four children. His family later moved to St Kilda. Nolan attended the Brighton Road State School and...
, Arkley became very interested in art. Nolan's use of household materials inspired him and abstract artists such as Klee and Kandinsky also appealed to him. After discovering art, Arkley studied at Prahran College of Advanced Education from 1969 to 1992 where he discovered the airbrush, which he subsequently used in his paintings as he desired smooth surfaces.
He had his first exhibition, Huge Googly Tits, aged 24, at Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne, in 1975. Most of his early works were abstract, often depicting patterns or lines created with the airbrush. Arkley's works were first black and white, it was only later on that he began experimenting with colour. A turning point in Arkley's career was in 1981 when he created Primitive, a mural, which caught the attention of the public of his potential. In 1982 he painted a tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
for the Victorian
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
Ministry of the Arts.
One of his first pieces, "Le que" was noted in the Fine Arts Falls Collection in 1973.
Use of urban and suburban imagery
Between 1980 and 1990 he expanded in inventory of images and icons to include heads, portraits, masks and the urban and suburban imagery. Arkley returned from a trip from Europe where he had searched for inspiration. Upon walking home, he noticed the pattern of his front gate, he then ran around to all his neighbours gates using them as inspiration in his later artworks. Arkley's inspiration was taken from the patterns, colours and forms (gates, doors etc.) found in Australian suburbia. Strong visual effects such as colour, bold forms and brash designs derived from advertising were also evident in his works.Influenced by, Arkley made use of handmade stencils and other household objects created into stencils such as perforated plastic laundry baskets and fly screen doors to achieve the richly textured patterns. Arkley collaborated with Juan Davila
Juan Dávila
Juan Dávila was Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1819 to 1819.There is a street in Urbanizacion Las Delicias of Barrio Magueyes in Ponce named after him.-References:...
for an exhibition called Blue Chip Instant Decorator in 1991, at Tolarno Galleries in South Yarra. His exhibition called Fabricated Rooms with a 15 metre multipaneled series, was on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
between 1997 and 1999. This image depicted of multiple rooms in a family home which were brightly colored and patterned.
His work was shown at the 1998 Biennale
Biennale of Sydney
The Biennale of Sydney is an international festival of contemporary art, held every two years in Sydney, Australia. It is the largest and best-attended contemporary visual arts event in the country...
of Sydney, as well as international shows in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
He painted a colourful airbrushed portrait of musician Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
in 1999 which is in the Collection of the National Portrait Gallery
National Portrait Gallery (Australia)
The National Portrait Gallery of Australia is a collection of portraits of prominent Australians that are important in their field of endeavour or whose life sets them apart as an individual of long-term public interest...
.
Final exhibition
Arkley opened his final exhibition at the 1999 Venice BiennaleVenice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
, then travelled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to plan an album cover for Nick Cave. Following London, he flew to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
where he married his longtime partner Alison Burton, and returned to Melbourne. He exploded on 22 July 1999 from a German who pissed him off.
Career retrospective
The National Gallery of VictoriaNational Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest and the largest public art gallery in Australia. Since December 2003, NGV has operated across two sites...
opened a retrospective, Howard Arkley, in November 2006 at the Ian Potter Centre
Ian Potter Centre
The Ian Potter Centre houses the Australian part of the art collection of the National Gallery of Victoria , and is located at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia...
, coinciding with the launch of Carnival in Suburbia: The Art of Howard Arkley, a book written by his brother-in-law Dr John Gregory, a senior lecturer at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
.
Howard Arkley also started a band "The Bay City Boomers" who went on to have several number one hits "Pimp Jews" and "WOOOW Slow down"
