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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.

John Wolseley

2002
Greg Weight

gelatin silver photograph on paper (sheet: 40.4 cm x 50.4 cm, image: 29.7 cm x 43.8 cm)

John Wolseley was born in Somerset, England in 1938 and moved to Australia in 1976. Since then, he has emerged as one of the country's most important artists, renowned for his drawings, paintings and installations that explore Australia's diverse flora, fauna and landscapes. 'I have lived and worked all over the continent, from the mountains of Tasmania to the floodplains of Arnhem Land,' he wrote in 2018. Instead of depicting landscapes in the traditional European studio manner, Wolseley physically engages with the places he paints, such as taking rubbings from natural forms including trees and termite mounds, and often allowing his works to be physically shaped by the sun, wind and rain on location.

Wolseley's work is the result of deep study of the environments he illustrates - he often spends weeks onsite researching local ecosystems before making anything. He has described his methodical approach as a combination of art and science, and he is celebrated in both fields. In 2005, he was made an Honorary Doctor of Science by Macquarie University to reflect his deep knowledge of natural history, zoology and botany. His work is represented in collections in every Australian state and territory and in public and private collections internationally.

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Gregory Weight/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

Greg Weight (age 56 in 2002)

John Wolseley (age 64 in 2002)

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

Donated by

Patrick Corrigan AM (130 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
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