Earle Backen

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Paintings & Works on Paper 'a retrospective look, selected by Lou Klepac, Art Historian & Publisher   July 30 - August 17, 2005       Earle Backen (b.1927) is one of the most respected painters active in Sydney. He has been a most generous teacher and has inspired many younger artists to follow in his footsteps. This is especially true in the field of printmaking having been largely responsible for introducing and teaching modern printmaking techniques to a younger generation. Backen was well trained in art having studied with Antonio Dattilo Rubbo and then with John Passmore at the Julian Ashton Art School. Having won the 1954 NSW Travelling Scholarship Earle Backen travelled to London where he made contact with Roi de Maistre and also John Passmore's friend Keith Vaughan with whom he studied at the Central School. In Paris, at the famous Atelier 17 run by S.W. Hayter, Backen learned the techniques of printmaking. It was while in Paris that he developed a special love for French  art and life which would take him back regularly decade after decade. Earle Backen has exhibited regularly, although painting and drawing have taken  over from his printmaking since his retirement from teaching. He is an especially brilliant watercolourist, a medium that perhaps he has not used as often as his many admirers would have liked. His contribution to art and teaching has been acknowledged with the award of the order of Australia (AM); The Silver Pencil from the 'Pens and Pencils' group and numerous art prizes. The present exhibition is a mini survey of works from his private collection. It includes some paintings made in France, a series of his 1960s colour etchings, and some typical still lifes. It gives a comprehensive view of Backen's versatility as an artist as well as his special interest and love for interiors with still life. Lou Klepac, Sydney, July 2005.

1927 1945 0 1954 0 1956 0 1960 1964 1975-1992

Born Albury, NSW Moved to Sydney. Studied  at Art School of Cav. A. Dattilo-Rubbo ­ later the Bissietta Art School - and Julian Ashton's Art School under John Passmore. Awarded the NSW Travelling Art Scholarship Travelled to London and studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts under Keith Vaughan and at the Slade School. Moved to Paris. Studied at the Academie de la Grande Chaumière and with S.W.Hayter at Atelier 17. Returned to Sydney taught at the National Art School, East Sydney Technical College. Honorary Academician of the Della Arti Des Disegno, Florence, Italy Senior Lecturer at the City Art Institute, Sydney Earle Backen has appeared in numerous group exhibitions and Biennales in Australia, France, South East Asia, New Zealand, Japan, UK, Switzerland, Poland and the USA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

1961, 64, 67 1961, 63, 68, 77, 81 1962 1968 0 1969 1969, 71, 78 1972 1981 1987 0 1994 1987, 88, 90, 93, 95, 99 & 2005

Johnstone Gallery, Brisbane Macquarie Galleries, Sydney Argus Gallery, Melbourne Crossley Gallery, Melbourne   Newcastle CAE Newcastle City Art Gallery Macquarie Galleries, Canberra Bonython Gallery, Sydney Wagga Wagga City Art Gallery Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Survey Exhibition Bathurst Regional Gallery, Survey Exhibition Breewood Gallery, Katoomba Robin Gibson Gallery, Sydney

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

Salon d'Automne, Paris, 1956 Salon des Realities Nouvelles, Paris, 1957, 1959 Four Arts in Australia, South East Asia , 1962 Australian Print Survey, 1964-68 Print Council of Australia  Travelling Exhibition, 1969 Ten Printmakers, 1972; Six Australian  Printmakers, New Zealand, 1976 Contemporary Australian Printmaking, Japan, 1977 Contemporary Australian Printmakers, USA, Canada & UK, 1981 Contemporary Australian Watercolours & Drawings, 1986 "Works on Paper" Robin Gibson Gallery, 1988; "20th C. Australian Watercolours" Art Gallery of New South Wales, 1989; Invitation Kedumba Art Award, Katoomba, 1991 & 1992 Australian Watercolours 1880 to 1990's", Art Gallery of New South Wales, 1995 International Exhibition of Watercolours, Spain, 1995 "Only Drawing" Robin Gibson Gallery, 2005.

BIENNALES

1959 1960 1960 & 1962 1962 1964 1970, 1972 & 1978 1979

Biennale of Philadelphia, USA Biennale of Cincinatti, USA Biennales of Tokyo, Japan Biennale of Llubljana, Yugoslav Biennale of Lugarno, Switzerland Biennales of Cracow, Poland Biennale of Bradford UK.

PRIZES

1954 1960 1971 1974 1980, 84, 90, 91 & 92 1984, 85, 90 & 91 1985 1988

NSW Travelling Art Scholarship Contemporary Art Soci Mosman Prize Australia Council Grant; Still Life Prize, Royal Easter Show Sydney Drawing Prize, Royal Easter Show Watercolour Prize, Royal Easter Show Bicentennial Invitation Art Prize, Royal Easter Show

COLLECTIONS

National Gallery of Australia     Art Gallery of South Australia Art Gallery of Western Australia National Gallery of Victoria Queensland Art Gallery Newcastle City Art Gallery Australian Regional Galleries NSW State Parliament Offices Artbank Regent Hotel, Sydney Landmark Hotel, Sydney Kumagai Australia College of Fine Arts, University of NSW St Paul's College, Sydney  Blue Mountains Grammar School Numerous private, public and corporate collections in Australia, Europe, UK and USA

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brian Seidel, Printmaking (The Arts in Australia), Longman, 1965 Franz Kempf, Contemporary Australian Printmaking, Lansdowne, 1976 Sasha Grishin, Contemporary Australian Printmaking, Craftsman House, 1994 Hendrik Kolenberg, 1880s to 1990s, Australian Watercolours from the Gallery's Collection, The Art Gallery of NSW, 1995.

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