Listed for $80,000, the small 'oil on cardboard' attracted four determined phone bidders who pushed the final price close to $1 million, likely a new world record per-centimetre price for Australian artwork at auction.
Category Archives: Painting
Australia’s richest art prize goes to ‘first-time’ portrait painter
Melbourne artist Lynn Savery says she "never expected to get into the finals, let alone win" the $150,000 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize with her "first" portrait and oil painting.
From the neck up, please: Gillard’s portrait unveiled in Parliament House
The former prime minister says the captivating head-and-shoulders painting style was chosen following endless commentary on women's appearances in public life.
The once world-famous Australian fairy-tale artist you’ve likely never heard of
Before Disney, Ida Rentoul Outhwaite was bringing fairies to life, with a uniquely Australian flavour. She was rapidly rose to fame — even the Queen read her books as a child. So why haven't we heard of her?
Art gallery pioneer appointed to top Canberra job
The head of the internationally-renowned Bendigo Art Gallery has been appointed as the new director of the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
The legacy of Charles Blackman
The art world mourns after the death of one of Australia's most celebrated artists, Charles Blackman.
‘He painted the dreams of everyone’: Artist Charles Blackman dies aged 90
Charles Blackman, best known for his Alice in Wonderland series of paintings, was revered as one of Australia's greatest painters of the human condition.
Love for ‘stunning’ mums win Young Archies portrait prize
Four young painters across the nation have won the Young Archies prize for five to 18-year-olds, entering portraits of someone special to them.
Friend of Van Gogh, mentor to Matisse, but John Russell is Australia’s forgotten impressionist
Australian-born impressionist John Russell was a virtual unknown when he died at his Sydney home in 1930, but he had been a friend of Vincent van Gogh, a mentor to Henri Matisse and lived in France during one of the most exciting times in art history.
How a grieving illustrator found happiness — and became Insta-famous along the way
When Mari Andrew posted her first drawing to Instagram, she had one follower: her mum. Her father had died, her relationship had ended, and health problems were making it hard for her to leave the house. But a lot can change in three years.