1972
1972 Works
Paintings
![](https://www.arkleyworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Lauras-Living-Black-19721-148x150.jpg)
This painting, clearly a close relative of Transpass 1972, was first exhibited at the 1991 Monash Arkley survey.
![](https://www.arkleyworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Transpass-19721-147x150.jpg)
One of Arkley's first significant works, this painting earnt him his first major award, the Frankston Art Prize in 1974.
![](https://www.arkleyworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Untitled-blue_black-with-boxes-19726B251-150x143.jpg)
Not exhibited or reproduced. Possibly incomplete? The date is suggested by Arkley’s file slide (processed Dec72).
![](https://www.arkleyworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Untitled-metallic-stripes-19721-150x125.jpg)
Arkley's file slide (taken in 1974?) is the sole source for this work, possibly identical with one of the other unidentified canvases dating from 1973-4.
Works on Paper
![](https://www.arkleyworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Untitled-1972-W_P-613B1-150x99.jpg)
Work on paper exhibited in HA Monash 1991, together with What it's like to be captured by my friends (1972) [W/P].
![](https://www.arkleyworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Self-Contained 1972-W_PF6521-150x86.jpg)
This work, exhibited in the 1991 Monash Arkley survey, depicts a series of small 'creatures' characteristic of the artist's early work.
![](https://www.arkleyworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG_6903-copy-150x115.jpeg)
The third of the group exhibited at Hawthorn in 1972, this drawing was preserved in Arkley's studio collection.
(Arkley with Laura’s Living Black 1972; photo: Elizabeth Gower [artist’s archive])
Arkley turned 21 during the year, and his style now began to take on a more assured and distinctive form, with the air-brush prominent in a series of larger scale paintings. He continued his Diploma at Prahran CAE (most units now completed), and met Elizabeth Gower there in 1972 (see Spray 15, and Duncan 1991: 15).
His production was increasingly prolific during this early period (c.1972-4) preceding his first solo exhibition in 1975. However, there is considerable difficulty in establishing precise details for many of his works and exhibitions at this stage.
1972 Exhibitions
Corio 5 Star Whisky Prize, Geelong
- Laura’s Living Black 1972 (?) [or possibly a different work? NB size noted in Bio.1969-75 as 5½’ x 7’ – i.e. oblong rather than square in format; unfortunately the Geelong Art Gallery has no relevant records]
Caltex Alva Award, La Trobe Valley Regional Gallery
- Living Black: NB size given in Bio.1969-75 as 5½’ x 5½’, which corresponds to Laura’s Living Black 1972
Elenor Target Prize, Hawthorn City Art Gallery
- 3 ‘Zoo drawings’ (Duncan 1991: 16 and Bio.1969-75): see Zoo Drawings 1-3 1972 [W/P] (at least one of these drawings is extant)