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Bill Leak (1956-2017), artist and caricaturist, trained at the Julian Ashton school in the mid-seventies and began his career painting landscapes. In 1978 he left Australia for travel and study in Europe, working for four years in a studio in Bavaria. He returned to Australia in 1982 and worked as a cartoonist at the Bulletin. In 1985 he commenced a ten-year stint as an illustrator for the Sydney Morning Herald; in 1995 he became Chief Political Illustrator for the Australian. Over the years he has painted many portraits, subjects of which include Sir Donald Bradman, Bob Hawke, Bill Hayden, Gough Whitlam and Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull. Leak has been a finalist in the Archibald 10 times, has won 7 Walkley awards, and 19 Stanley Awards from the Australian Black and White Artists' Society. He hosted a radio show, The Night Club, on ABC Radio National.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
Accession number: 2003.208
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On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
A portrait story that explores the life and times of legendary Australian cricketer Sir Donald Bradman.
Magda Keaney talks with Bill Leak about his bold new portrait of Robert Hughes in the National Portrait Gallery collection.
Magda Keaney examines the 123 Faces project by Simon Obarzanek.