John Brack (1920–1999), artist, grew up in Melbourne and studied at the National Gallery School at night while working as a junior insurance clerk.
9 portraits in the collection
The exhibition includes such striking works as Portrait of Fred Williams, and Barry Humphries in the character of Edna Everage, the enigmatic Portrait of Hal Hattam, a group of revealing self portraits including the mysterious Inside and Outside, as well as endearing portraits of the artist's children.
Purchased with funds provided by Tim Fairfax AC 2010
Recorded 1962
Gift of Kym Bonython AC DFC AFC 2007. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Purchased 2012
Gift of Frank Croll and Dr Joan Croll AO 2001. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Gift of Dr Joan Croll AO 2007. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Gift of Timothy Fairfax AC 2012. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
Dr Sarah Engledow explores the early life and career of John Brack.
An extensive selection of portraits by John Brack were on display at the National Portrait Gallery in late 2007.
A pair of portraits by John Brack; Portrait of Kym Bonython and Portrait of Mr Bonython's speedway cap combine to create a quirky depiction of their subject.
Andrew Sayers discusses the portrait of Dr Joan Croll AO by the Australian artist John Brack.
Gift of the Jozef Vissel 2015
Helen Grieve (1931–1981), child actress, was born in Sydney. Her first film role was in The Overlanders (1946), opposite Chips Rafferty.
1 portrait in the collection
Helen Edwards, a member of Portrait Artists Australia, has been a finalist in the Black Swan Prize four times, the Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize in Bega once and has been selected for the Salon des Refusés of the Archibald twice.
1 portrait in the collection