Genesis: William Robinson: 28 June 2016 to 18 June 2017

Foreword

In April 2016, William Robinson celebrated his 80th birthday. While this important artist shows no indication of slowing down, it is worth taking a moment to honour his many and varied successes that led to the new exhibition, William Robinson: Genesis. Robinson gained national prominence in the late 1980s and 1990s when he became the two-time winner of Australia’s biggest portraiture prize, the Archibald, as well as of the Wynne Prize for landscape. Represented in the collections of all Australian national and state institutions, and celebrated in 2001 with a major survey exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery that later travelled to the National Gallery of Australia, Robinson has accomplished great institutional success. In 2007, the artist was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to the visual arts. In 2009, QUT opened the William Robinson Gallery, dedicated to the permanent display of the artist’s work, and two years later it presented William Robinson: The transfigured landscape, the most comprehensive exhibition and publication on the artist’s work to date. Thus, it is quite easy to measure William Robinson’s career in terms of his institutional achievements; however, it is also important to acknowledge that these achievements are mirrored by his broader success, which is due to his loyal supporters. Robinson’s striking compositions appeal to a diverse audience— the general public, fellow artists, his former students, prominent authors such as David Malouf, and distinguished curators such as the late Betty Churcher, as well as The Honourable Quentin Bryce AD CVO, who professes that his paintings “bring joy, reassurance, beauty and inspiration” to her life.1 As epitomised by Quentin Bryce’s statement, Robinson’s supporters truly love his work. This is reflected in the large number of works held in private collections throughout Australia and internationally. Robinson’s work reflects his life—the places he’s lived, his family, his pets, his home—and this speaks volumes to audiences here and abroad. In fact, he is one of the few Australian artists whose work has been collected by the Vatican Museum in Vatican City and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Robinson’s paintings speak to everyday experiences—joy, sorrow, frustration, humour. They somehow manage to inspire awe and express humility simultaneously. Given the universal quality of Robinson’s works, we are delighted to have the opportunity to share them with the world, as William Robinson: Genesis will travel to Europe and North America in 2017 and 2018. Importantly, the artist’s extensive lithography series, which he created over several trips to Atelier Bordas in Paris, will return to the city from which they originated. QUT is fortunate to have Robinson’s entire lithography series in its collection, which the artist has generously donated over the years. With over 170 of Robinson’s works, including paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture, QUT has the largest institutional collection of the artist’s work. We are very excited indeed to share highlights from the QUT Art Collection, along with a select few works from private collections, in this exhibition. From Robinson’s celebrated oil paintings to his masterfully created lithographs, etchings, drawings and watercolours, William Robinson: Genesis is a brilliant opportunity to appreciate this artist’s distinguished oeuvre.

Professor Susan Street AO Executive Director QUT Precincts