Hal Missingham AO (1906-1994), best known as a gallery director, was also an artist and photographer. Before World War II he studied in Perth, Paris and London, where he became friendly with a number of leading artists and developed an interest in photography. He returned to Sydney in 1941 and after a stint in the AIF helped to found the Studio of Realist Art. In 1945 he succeeded Will Ashton as the Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, a post he retained until 1971. His collection policy made an outstanding contribution to Australian contemporary art and he was responsible for bringing a number of influential international exhibitions to the country. His memoir of his career as an arts administrator, They Kill You in the End, was published in 1973.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Rex Dupain 2003
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
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