Thomas de Kessler, artist, came to Australia from Hungary in 1950. Born into an academic and creative family, he spoke several languages and had attended art school before arriving in Melbourne. In 1953 he opened a stained-glass window business, but two years later he returned to study, furthering his art skills and training as a teacher. He taught at Williamstown and Collingwood technical schools and won the Herald art prize for graphics before transferring to the Department of Education, where he became a senior planning officer. He remained in the department until he retired in 1987, having encouraged the introduction of various facilities and innovations to new technical colleges in the state. He is represented in the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Portrait Gallery, which has two drawings he made of John Perceval in 1999.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Diana de Kessler 2009
Accession number: 2009.52
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Thomas de Kessler (age 46 in 1971)
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