Oil painting -> List of Painters -> Arthur Boyd

Arthur Boyd:

Arthur Merric Bloomfield Boyd was born at Murrumbeena, Melbourne, Australia on 24 July 1920. Arthur was the second child of Merric and Doris Boyd who were both potters and painters. At the National Gallery of Victoria Art School,he attended night classes. But mostly his artist grandfather with whom he stayed at Rosebud,Victoria taught him painting.

Arthur Boyd (1920-1999) was one of Australia's most significant and influential painters, renowned for his distinctive style and profound exploration of the Australian landscape, human condition, and mythological themes. Born in Melbourne, Boyd came from a family of artists, including his father, Merric Boyd, a prominent potter, and his uncle, the artist Penleigh Boyd. This artistic lineage deeply influenced his early development as a visual artist.

Boyd's artistic career began at the National Gallery School in Melbourne, where he studied from 1937 to 1940. During this time, he was exposed to European modernist movements like Expressionism and Surrealism, which shaped his early work. His first major influence, however, was the Australian landscape, which he encountered during a formative trip to the country's western regions in the late 1940s. Boyd's early works, often dark in tone, reflected a troubled response to the human impact on the Australian environment, expressing themes of alienation, isolation, and existential struggle.

In the late 1940s, Boyd began experimenting with a range of subjects, including portraits, religious and mythological themes, and representations of Australian history. His work during this period became marked by a more intense exploration of human suffering and vulnerability, often portrayed through dramatic and emotive figures and a dynamic use of color. Boyd's style evolved to incorporate elements of abstraction, emphasizing bold brushwork and vivid color.

Boyd's personal life and experiences had a significant impact on his art. His struggles with mental health and the trauma of World War II deeply influenced his work, as did his observations of Australian society and the political landscape. The brutality of war and the impact of colonization became recurring themes in his work, giving rise to some of his most powerful and unsettling pieces. Works like The Crucifixion (1947) and The Garden of the Fugitives (1954) demonstrate Boyd's ability to confront uncomfortable truths about humanity and its enduring conflicts.

In the 1950s, Boyd relocated to London, where he was exposed to international art movements and his work garnered international acclaim. His return to Australia in 1963 saw a period of reinvigoration in his career, with Boyd continuing to push the boundaries of painting, sculpture, and printmaking. This period marked his deepening engagement with Australian Aboriginal themes and his interest in the country's colonial past, drawing on Australian myths and folklore.

Boyd's work transcended the purely aesthetic, often serving as a commentary on Australian identity, culture, and history. As a prominent member of the Antipodeans group, Boyd was also a vocal critic of the perceived dominance of European modernism in Australian art, advocating for a distinctly Australian voice in the visual arts. His influence was also felt in the broader cultural sphere, as he worked in ceramics, and was deeply involved in the Australian art scene, acting as a mentor to younger artists.

Boyd's legacy is profound, with his works held in major galleries both in Australia and internationally. His works remain a symbol of the deep emotional, political, and spiritual struggles embedded in the Australian consciousness. Boyd's commitment to exploring the human experience through the lens of the Australian landscape and history has solidified his place as one of the foremost Australian artists of the 20th century.

Personal Details: Name Arthur Boyd Place of birth Melbourne, Australia Date of Birth June 24,1920 Date of Death 1990 Nationality Spanish Field Painter Popular Paintings Dreaming Bridegroom I,Mourning Bride I ,Wheatfield-Berwick ,Portrait of Alannah Coleman I

Career:

         His initial solo exhibition of his works was held in Melbourne in 1937. In 1962, he was given  a retrospective exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, London. In 1967 Thames and Hudson published Franz Philipp's chief  monograph Arthur Boyd. Boyd visited  Australia again  in 1968 and  he constantly divided his time between Europe and Australia.

         Arthur Boyd created numerous series of works which includes a collection of 15 biblical paintings based on the teaching of his mother, Doris Boyd née Gough. Afterward he created a tempera series about large areas of sky and land, known as the Wimmera series.

Works of  Arthur Boyd: