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Jon Molvig

1923 - 1970

Key facts

  • Died: 1970
  • Top 3 works: Figure and still life
  • Copyright status: Under copyright
  • Top-ranked work: Figure and still life
  • Art period: Modern
  • Born: 1923, Newcastle, Australia

The Life and Art of Jon Molvig

Jon Molvig was an Australian expressionist artist born in Newcastle, New South Wales. His career spanned approximately twenty years, during which he became a major developer of 20th-century Australian expressionism. He was known as an emotional and intuitive painter who often invented symbols and a particular style to suit his subjects. His work frequently explored themes of humanity and its follies, such as in his Eden Industrial series, where he depicted Adam and Eve in an industrialized Garden of Eden using heavily textured surfaces achieved by burning layers of paint with a blowtorch.

Molvig was an accomplished portrait painter, capturing figures such as:

Artistic Milestones and Legacy

Throughout his career, Molvig received numerous accolades, including winning the Archibald Prize in 1966 with a portrait of Charles Blackman. His recognition included several other prizes:

His stylistic evolution included the Centralian series, which incorporated Australian Aboriginal symbolism into his interpretation of the landscape, and the Pale Nudes series. Later, he produced the Tree of Man series. Molvig also served as a mentor to various emerging artists and held weekly life drawing classes in Brisbane. He died in South Brisbane, Queensland.

Questions & Answers

In which historical period did Jon Molvig work?

Jon Molvig worked in the Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.

Where is Jon Molvig from?

Jon Molvig was born in Australia.

What are the birth city and country of Jon Molvig?

Jon Molvig was born in Newcastle, in Australia.

Where can I see Jon Molvig's artworks arranged by atmosphere?

The Mood Room of Jon Molvig is a page that arranges the artist's artworks by mood.

Quiz

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
In which year did Jon Molvig win the Archibald Prize?
Question 2:
Where was Jon Molvig born?
Question 3:
Which series did Molvig paint after traveling through central Australia in 1958/59?
Question 4:
What technique did Molvig use to achieve heavily textured surfaces in his 'Eden Industrial' series?
Question 5:
Which artist did Molvig paint a portrait of that won the Archibald Prize in 1966?