Vale Charles Blackman – Australia says goodbye to an Antipodean legend
A portrait of him won the Archibald Prize in 1966, a Melbourne hotel was named after him, and he even wrote a manifesto that shaped Australian art history. Blackman’s legacy is great.
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Visual Arts
Charles Blackman with his daughters Christabel (left) and Bertie (right); supplied
Charles Blackman turned 90 on Sunday (12 August). Some might say it was typical of Charlie, not willing to miss out on a party, always keen to embrace life to the fullest.
Blackman was one of Australia’s most iconic painters of the post war era; the subject of weighty art tomes and a key voice in creating an Australian narrative.
Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's Senior Contributor, after 12 years in the role as National Visual Arts Editor. She has worked for extended periods in America and Southeast Asia, as gallerist, arts administrator and regional contributing editor for a number of magazines, including Hong Kong based Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. She is an Art Tour leader for the AGNSW Members, and lectures regularly on the state of the arts. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW.
Instagram: fairleygina
