Shakespeare to Winehouse open 9:00am–7:00pm on Thu, Fri, Sat from 7 July
Kevin 'Pro' Hart MBE (1928-2006), painter and sculptor, was born in Broken Hill, NSW, and grew up on his family's nearby sheep station. He worked as a miner in his early twenties before turning to painting full time at the age of thirty. In 1962 an Adelaide gallery director discovered Hart and mounted the artist's first solo exhibition. Since his first London solo show in 1972 his work has been exhibited all round the world, from Los Angeles and New York to Cairo and Manila, and his paintings are held in the collections of Prince Philip and the White House. Known mainly for his paintings in oils and acrylics, scenes of bush life in electric blue, orange and mustard, he also makes sculptures in steel, bronze and ceramics. Genuine Harts are identifiable through the artist's genetic mark, applied to the works via a process known as DNA ArtGuard. One of the country's most popular and widely recognised artists, in 1976 Hart received an MBE for his services to art in Australia.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2004
© Nick Young
Nick Young (1 portrait)
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.
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