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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.

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Nick Cave

1999
Howard Arkley

synthetic polymer paint on canvas (support: 175.2 cm x 135.2 cm depth 4.3 cm)

Artist Howard Arkley and musician and writer Nick Cave AO (b. 1957) moved in the same creative circles in Melbourne in the 1970s. Cave formed his first band, eventually named The Boys Next Door, when he was a student. After leaving school the band became embedded in Melbourne’s post-punk and alternative music scenes, renaming themselves The Birthday Party when they relocated to London. Based on photos, posters and clippings, this portrait was made in Arkley’s Melbourne studio in 1999, when Cave was the frontman for Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. The result is a portrait that evokes the material culture of the underground music scene, as well as the emotional intensity of Cave’s writing and music. Its pulsating colour coveys the noise and lurid stage lighting of the venues where Cave made his start. It is an unmistakeable example of Arkley’s work and a distillation of the many stylistic and technical threads that run through it – from the abstract compositions of his early career to the airbrush paintings of suburban homes and interiors for which he is best known.

Commissioned with funds provided by L Gordon Darling AC CMG 1999
© Estate of Howard Arkley. Licensed by Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art.

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.
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Audio description

2 minutes 47 seconds
Show transcript

Artist and subject

Howard Arkley (age 48 in 1999)

Nick Cave AO (age 42 in 1999)

Subject professions

Performing arts

Supported by

The Gordon Darling Foundation (36 portraits supported)

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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 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