Brett Whiteley

Beryl, Wendy and Arkie Whiteley have carried on Brett Whiteley's legacy since the artist's death in 1992. In collaboration with the NSW State Government and the Art Gallery of NSW, Arkie and Wendy undertook the enormous task of cataloguing and documenting the Whiteley collection, and founding the studio in 1995. The Brett Whiteley Foundation was established to ensure the ongoing support of the studio – something Wendy wishes to ensure continues after her death. Brett's mother Beryl established the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship in 1999 for young Australian painters aged between 20-30 years. Wendy is incredibly generous with her time and continues to curate exhibitions, support the studio and participate in its many related programs, in particular the touring program. — Alec George, coordinator Brett Whiteley Studio, 2018

1939 Born 7 April, Sydney, Australia. Grew up at 18 Lucretia Avenue, Longueville. 1946 Won first art competition: annual RSPCA exhibition at Farmer’s Blaxland Gallery for The driver sits in the shade but what about the horse? 1948 Sent to boarding school at Scots College, Bathurst. 1954 Saw Lloyd Rees’s European paintings exhibition at Macquarie Galleries, Sydney. Briefly attended Scots College, Sydney 1954–55. 1956 Awarded first prize, Young Painters’ Section, Bathurst Show, New South Wales. Left school mid-year, and worked in Sydney for Lintas Advertising Agency in the layout and commercial art department. His mother Beryl Whiteley left Australia for London. 1956–59 Met Wendy Julius, who was attending the National Art School in East Sydney, where Whiteley and Michael Johnson occasionally drew at the life drawing class. Used the glasshouse at his home in Longueville as a studio. Sporadically attended life drawing at Julian Ashton Art School. Painted on weekends around Bathurst, Sofala, Hill End and the south coast of New South Wales. Painted at Sydney Soup Kitchen and night refuge. 1959 In November awarded Italian Government Travelling Art Scholarship for 1960, judged by Sir Russell Drysdale at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Whiteley submitted four paintings: 'Abstract Autumn', 'Dixon Street', 'July' and 'Around Bathurst' – the painting that won him the scholarship. 1960 Arrived on 25 February in Naples on board the Fairstar. Spent March to May in Rome and Florence. Had an apartment in Rome near the Spanish Steps with his mother Beryl. Brief visits to Paris and London. On 14 June met Wendy in Paris and after two weeks returned to Florence studio. Travelled throughout Italy, including to Siena and Arezzo. Haunted the Uffizi Gallery immersed in work by artists of the 14th and 15th centuries, particularly Cimabue, Duccio and Piero della Francesca. In November moved to London. Met Bryan Robertson director of Whitechapel Gallery. Included in 'Survey of recent Australian painting' at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, from which Untitled red painting was purchased by the Tate Gallery. 1962 Married Wendy Julius on 27 March at Chelsea Registry Office, London. From April to September travelled through Europe with his father, Clem, visiting Rome, Paris, Barcelona and the Hautes-Pyrénées. Clem returned to Australia (the last time Whiteley saw his father). The Whiteleys spent five months in the south of France in old farm houses at Sigean and travelled to Spain and Germany. 1963 Spent six and a half months completing 'Summer at Sigean'. Afterwards commenced the bathroom series. On 3 May Clem Whiteley died aged 55. 1964 From March to May exhibited in 'The new generation: 1964', Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, with 'Woman in a bath 5' 1963–64, 'Bather and mirror' 1964, 'Figure at the basin' 1963 and 'Sketch for large mirror painting' 1964. Daughter Arkie born on 6 November at St George’s Hospital, London. 1965 Exhibited in Australia, France, Belgium and Italy. In December returned to Australia for the summer, staying at Whale Beach, north of Sydney. 1967 Awarded Harkness Foundation Scholarship. May to June travelled in Majorca, Tangier and Madrid before sailing on the Queen Mary to New York in September. Moved into a penthouse apartment at the Chelsea Hotel. Australian group exhibition, Whitechapel Gallery, London. 1969 In July fled New York for Fiji and lived in a bure at Navutuleva, about 72km along the coast from Suva. Spent five months in Fiji. Fined £F50 in Suva for possession of a drug. Returned in November to Australia, moving to Lavender Bay, Sydney. 1970–72 Involved with The Yellow House artist’s community in Potts Point, Sydney. 1970–72 Involved with The Yellow House artist’s community in Potts Point, Sydney. 1971 From 9–18 November showed in group exhibition 'The bonsai show', Australian Galleries, Melbourne. Rented Gasworks studio in Waverton, Sydney. 1972 In February began work on 'Alchemy'. 1973 In January completed work 'Alchemy'. Exhibited 'Alchemy' at Bonython Gallery, Sydney. In June travelled to Mauritius and Kenya. 1974 ‘Moved from alcohol to more serious mind altering chemicals’, quote from interview with Philip Adams. Exhibited at The World Expo, Spokane, Washington, USA. 1975 Awarded Sir William Anglis Memorial Art Prize, Melbourne. Included in Australian painting exhibition, People’s Republic of China. Moved from Gasworks studio in Waverton to downstairs in Lavender Bay house. 1976 Archibald Prize for 'Self portrait in the studio' 1976. Sir John Sulman Prize for 'Interior with time past' 1976 (genre painting). 1977 Wynne Prize for 'The jacaranda tree (on Sydney Harbour)' 1977. March to April in London. In August stayed with Joel Elenberg at Arthur Boyd’s Italian house, Casa Paletaio, in Pisa. Travelled to Venice, Florence and Rome. 1978 Archibald Prize for 'Art, life and the other thing' 1978. Wynne Prize for 'Summer at Carcoar' 1977. Sir John Sulman Prize for 'Yellow nude' 1978. 1979 Joel Elenberg shared studio with Whiteley in Lavender Bay. 1980 June to September in Bali with Joel Elenberg and his family, Anna and Zahava, until Elenberg’s death. 1981 Moved to studio in Reiby Place, Circular Quay. November in Vanuatu. 1982 Travelled to Spain, Germany, France. 1984 Awarded Wynne Prize for 'South coast after the rain' 1984. July in London. 1985 Purchased an old t-shirt factory in Surry Hills, Sydney, and converted it into a studio. Travelled to London in May; Wendy remained in England. 1986 Travelled to India to meet Wendy in Bombay and returned to Australia together. 1987 Travelled to London with Wendy. Wendy remained in London. 1989 Divorced from Wendy. May to August in London and Morocco, spending two months in Paris in an apartment on Rue de Tournon. Travelled for five weeks in Bali, Tokyo and Kyoto with Janice Spencer. October in Byron Bay, New South Wales. 1991 Awarded Order of Australia (General Division) on June 10. 1992 Died at Thirroul, New South Wales, 15 June.