The Art of John Coburn

John Coburn (1925-2006)

Queensland born artist John Coburn is celebrated for his distinctive style of abstraction. Depicting the beauty of nature and the spirituality of landscape, Coburn has refined a subtle yet powerful symbolic language in the form of large-scale paintings and tapestries and vivid screenprints. He is perhaps best known for his designs of two large tapestries for the Sydney Opera House curtains, and a series of seven for the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, Washington. He is represented in the Australian National Gallery, Canberra; all state and regional galleries; and the Vatican Museum, Rome.

 

John CoburnThe Creation from the Book of Genesis 1977

The 1st Day: The Spirit of God brooded over the waters

John Coburn The Creation from the Book of Genesis 1977 The 2nd Day: And God separated the light from the

dark

John CoburnCreation from the Book of Genesis: The 3rd Day 1977

God created the earth.

John CoburnCreation from the Book of Genesis: The 4th Day 1977

 

John CoburnThe Creation from the Book of Genesis 1977

The 5th Day: God created the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and the beasts of the land

 

John CoburnThe Creation from the Book of Genesis 1977

The 6th Day: God created man

 

John CoburnThe Creation from the Book of Genesis 1977

The 7th Day: God rested

 

John Coburn Resurrection 1988

 

John Coburn Death and Transfiguration 1988

 

John Coburn Hozanna 1988

John Coburn (1925-2006)Queensland born artist John Coburn is celebrated for his distinctive style of abstraction. Depicting the beauty of nature and the spirituality of landscape, Coburn has refined a subtle yet powerful symbolic language in the form of large-scale paintings and tapestries and vivid screenprints. He is perhaps best known for his designs of two large tapestries for the Sydney Opera House curtains, and a series of seven for the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, Washington. He is represented in the Australian National Gallery, Canberra; all state and regional galleries; and the Vatican Museum, Rome.

 

John CoburnStudy for 'In the Beginning was the World' 1991

Mixed media on paper

 

John CoburnStudy for 'In the Beginning was the World'

Mixed media on paper

 

John CoburnThe Expulsion 1988

Oil on canvas

John Coburn (b.1925)1925 Born, Ingham, Queensland1947-50 A.S.T.C Diploma PaintingNational Art School, East Sydney Technical College1956-59 Graphic Designer for ABC1959-68 Teacher, National Art School, Sydney and Canberra1969-72 Lived in France, designed tapestries for Aubusson Workshops1977 Travelled to New York, Washington and Paris 1977-80 Trustee, Art Gallery of NSW1980 Order of Australia (A.M)1985 Travelled to Moscow, St Petersburg, Paris and the south of France1986 Travelled to Rome, Florence, Aubusson1988 Travelled to Aubusson, Paris, London1991 Honorary doctor literature James Cook University, Townsville 1991 Commissioned to design backdrop for World Council of Churches Assembly in Canberra1993 – 94 Travelled to Hong Kong, Chianti, Florence, Sienna and Venice SOLO EXHIBITIONSOver 80 solo exhibitions since 1957AWARDS1959 Bathurst Art Prize1960 Blake Prize for Religious Art1962 Tamworth Prize1963 Darcy Morris Memorial Prize1963 Mirabooka Prize for Religious Art1966 Maitland Art Prize1977 Blake Prize for Religious Art(jointly with Rodney Milgate)1994 Mandorla Art Award for Religious ArtREPRESENTEDAustralian Public CollectionsNational Gallery of Australia, CanberraArt Gallery of New South Wales, SydneyMuseum of Contemporary Art, SydneyQueensland Art Gallery, BrisabaneNational Gallery of Victoria, MelbourneArt Gallery of South Australia, AdelaideArt Gallery of Western Australia, PerthMuseum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, DarwinQueen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, LauncestonBenalla Regional Art Gallery, VictoriaBroken Hill Regional Art Gallery, NSWCairns Regional Gallery, QueenslandCampbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery, SydneyCity of Ipswich Collection, Global Arts Link, QueenslandGeelong Gallery, Victoriaand many regional galleries throughout AustraliaParliament House Art Collection, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbaneand many University collections throughout Australia

International Public CollectionsGraphische Sammlung Albertina, ViennaVatican Museum, RomeJohn Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, WashingtonAuckland City Art Gallery, New Zealand

Also in many international and Australian corporate collections.

John CoburnIn Praise of the Sun 1966Oil on canvas

 

The Tower 1958Oil on board

 

John Coburn (1925-2006) Lamentation 1986

Oil on canvas

 

John CoburnEastern City 1956

Oil on composition board

 

John CoburnUntitled (Abstract)

Oil on canvas on board

 

John CoburnStudy for Desert Landscape

Mixed media on paper

 

John Coburn

Moon Dancer 1993 Acrylic

and pencil on paper

 

John CoburnStudy for Uluru

Mixed media on paper

 

John CoburnStudy for Tapestry 'Tree of Life' 1996

Mixed media on paper

 

Study for Central Australia, 2003Mixed media on paper

 

Study for Uluru, 2003Gouache on paper

 

John Coburn (1925-2006) Garden in Warrawee

1978Acrylic on canvas on board

 

John CoburnPlants in Moonlight 1972

Oil on canvas

 

Ah What is a Man (That you should be so mindful of him?) 1987Oil on canvas

 

John CoburnHarbour 2002Oil on canvas

 

John CoburnRed Earth 2003Oil on canvas

 

John CoburnAncient Land 2001

Oil on canvas

 

John CoburnNight Tide 1961

Oil on board 103 x 90cm

Signed 'Coburn' lower rightTitled verso

no.2216AJohn Coburn’s Night Tide is a superb early 1960’s painting by the late, great master of Australian

abstraction. Completed in 1961, Night Tide is painted with thick textured paint mixed with sand and expresses Coburn’s interest in the spirit of nature. This painting was finished the year after John Coburn was awarded the Blake Prize for Religious Art and the same year he exhibited in the Helena Rubenstein

Traveling Scholarship.

 

John Coburn Festive Image 1965

Oil on board

 

John CoburnOrange Sun

Oil on canvas on board

 

Desert Night with Moon, 2003Oil on canvas

 

John CoburnTribal Land 2003

 

John Coburn Tree of Life 1988

 

John Coburn Bright Day 1978

 

John Coburn Flight of Birds 1978

 

John Coburn Tree of Life 1981

 

John Coburn Curtain of the Sun, Sydney Opera House 1983

 

John Coburn White Bird in the Garden 1985

 

John CoburnRare Bird 1987

 

John Coburn Paradise Garden 1988

 

John Coburn Spring 1988

John CoburnReflections 1974

John CoburnWalbiri 1984