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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

JS Study 1

2014
Jasper Knight

enamel and synthetic polymer paint on conservation card (sheet: 150.0 cm x 102.0 cm, frame: 156.0 cm x 105.0 cm)

Jasper Knight is a Sydney-based artist known for his bright, brash colours and distinctive graphic approach, using materials such as spray paint, masonite, pegboard and salvaged signage. Influenced by graffiti, pop art and mixed media practices, Knight's work is often characterised by the inclusion of industrial landscapes and objects such as ports, cars, trucks and boats. Jeffrey Smart (1921–2013) likewise saw beauty in highways, factories, trucks, billboards, carparks and vacant city lots, creating distinctive paintings of the urban environment from the 1960s until his death. He once said of his subjects: 'Perhaps I'm trying to help people see the beauty in a gas tank, a road divider, a yellow truck. I paint buildings, factories, freeways, satellite dishes, because I like the definite forms and clean shapes.' In a nod to their shared subject matter, Knight painted Smart for the 2012 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize. This painted sketch was made later, but is likely to be based on studies made from life for the 2012 portrait.

Gift of Ross Steele AM 2021. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Jasper Knight/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Jasper Knight (age 36 in 2014)

Jeffrey Smart AO

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

Donated by

Ross Steele AM (1 portrait)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

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ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency