1. Arthur Boyd was a member of the Antipodeans, a group of Melbourne painters that included Clifton Pugh, David Arthur Boyd, John Brack, Robert Dickerson, John Perceval and Charles Blackman.
28 Facts About Arthur Boyd
1. 2.
Arthur Boyd's wife, Yvonne Arthur Boyd is a painter; as are their children Jamie, Polly, and Lucy.
3.
Arthur Boyd was born at Murrumbeena, Victoria, the son of Doris Arthur Boyd and her husband Merric, both potters and painters.
4.
Arthur Boyd's sisters Lucy and Mary were both artists as well as both of Arthur Boyd's younger brothers; David was a painter, and Guy a sculptor.
5.
Arthur Boyd moved to the inner city where he was influenced by his contact with European refugees.
6.
Arthur Boyd was 20 when conscripted to serve in the militia from 12 May 1941 until 25 March 1944.
7.
Arthur Boyd predominantly served in the Bendigo area as a cartographer.
8.
Arthur Boyd's paintings are not pretty and carry a pervasive magical and somewhat menacing atmosphere.
9.
Arthur Boyd was affiliated with the Antipodeans, a group of painters founded in 1959 and supported by Australian art historian Bernard Smith, who tried to promote figurative art when abstract painting and sculpture was dominant.
10.
Arthur Boyd produced several series of works, including a collection of fifteen biblical paintings based on the teaching of his mother, Doris.
11.
In 1975, Arthur Boyd donated several thousand works including pastels, sculptures, ceramics, etchings, tapestries, paintings and drawings to the National Gallery of Australia.
12.
At first encounter, Arthur Boyd was a little overwhelmed to paint the area; he found the scenery rugged and wild, vastly different from the landscapes he knew.
13.
Arthur Boyd donated a villa in Tuscany to the Australia Council for an artist-in-residence program in 1982.
14.
Arthur Boyd produced sixteen canvasses for the foyer of the Victorian Arts Centre in the same year.
15.
Arthur Boyd again represented Australia at the 1988 Venice Biennale with eight major works; and at the 2000 Venice Biennale.
16.
Arthur Boyd was commissioned to paint Earth and Fire for the cover of the 28 November 1988 Time magazine special issue dealing with environmental conservation in Australia.
17.
In 1997 for the first time Arthur Boyd exhibited together with the six members of his artistic dynasty under one roof; with brothers David and Guy, son Jamie, and nieces Lenore and Tessa Perceval.
18.
The exhibition entitled the Best of Arthur Boyd comprised 80 paintings and 40 bronze sculptures.
19.
Arthur Boyd died in 1999 at 78 years of age, and was buried at Brighton General Cemetery.
20.
Arthur Boyd was survived by his wife Yvonne, their son Jamie, and daughters Polly and Lucy.
21.
Arthur Boyd was a master at manipulating elements to express himself.
22.
Arthur Boyd developed new techniques when he was still a teenager and later changed technique depending on his preferred style, media, location and what he was depicting.
23.
Arthur Boyd applied paint with his fingers and palm because it is quicker, while the body contact directly connected him with the painting.
24.
Arthur Boyd believed this allowed for a greater sense of freedom and pleasure from the act of painting.
25.
Arthur Boyd was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1970 for services to art.
26.
On 26 January 1979, Arthur Boyd was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the visual arts.
27.
In recognition of his service to the visual arts and to the development of Australian artists and crafts people, Arthur Boyd was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia on 8 June 1992.
28.
Arthur Boyd's subjects were often mythical, realistic, malformed people and monsters, depicting a tragic drama.