Untitled [A368] 1972 [W/P]

Pencil and wash, 34 x 49.5
Signed and dated l.r.: ‘Howard Arkley 72’
Private collection, Melbourne

Finely-detailed pencil drawing preserved in Arkley’s studio collection, featuring a large imaginary creature. There is clear evidence of the drawing having been mounted, and this together with the signature and date, suggests that it may have been exhibited at some stage.

Provenance

  • Artist’s collection (A368)

Self contained [collage] (1972) [W/P]

Ink, pencil and collage
State Library Victoria

Extant state as shown; slides in the artist’s archive (labelled ‘Self contained 72’) show a piece of coloured patterning in the cut-out area.

Provenance

  • Artist’s collection (S28)
  • P/C Melb.
  • To SLV 2021

Current flows flying into play 1972 [W/P]

Synthetic polymer paint on paper, 41.2 x 63.2
Inscribed within image: ‘CURRENT FLOWS / FLYING INTO PLAY’ (l.l.) and ‘ARKLEY 72’ [l.r]
Private collection, Melbourne

One of several detailed works on paper preserved in Arkley’s studio collection, this was possibly one of the 6 unidentified works on paper he exhibited at the Hawthorn City Gallery in 1973.

Provenance

  • Artist’s collection (A281)

Exhibited

  • (possibly) Hawthorn City Gallery 1973 (‘Four Painters’) (refer HA Bio 1969-75 and Duncan 1991: 16 and 31)

Untitled [A159] 1972 [W/P]

Ink, crayon and synthetic polymer paint on paper, 50 x 63
Signed and dated within image, l.r.: ‘ARKLEY 72’
Private collection, Melbourne

Another exploratory drawing by the developing artist, in this case investigating the contrast between sprayed and drawn elements. Arkley’s studio archive included a slide of this work.

Provenance

  • Artist’s collection (A159)

Zoo drawing no.3 1972 [W/P]

Oil crayon and synthetic polymer paint, 39.5 x 51.5 (sheet)
Signed, dated and titled, u.l. (above image): ‘Zoo drawing 72. Howard Arkley,’ and numbered on verso of mount: ‘no.3’
Private collection, Melbourne

This finished drawing, preserved in Arkley’s studio collection with its original mount, was evidently one of the set of three shown with this title in 1972 (see exhibition details below).

For the other two drawings, yet to be identified, see Zoo drawings nos.1-2 (1972) [W/P].

Provenance

  • artist’s collection (no.A152)

Exhibitions

  • Hawthorn City Gallery 1972 (Elenor Target Prize) [acc.to HA Bio.1969-75 and Duncan 1991:16]

Untitled [birds] (c.1972) [W/P]

Pencil, synthetic polymer paint and collaged photographs, 35.5 x 57 (visible image)

Inscribed at lower margin, within image: ‘Block capitals / Avocet /Tawny Owl’ 

Private collection, Melbourne

A finely-detailed early drawing, including collaged photographs of Leonard Bernstein and an unidentifiable man, apparently juxtaposed to the images of different birds.

The work, which is mounted, may have been one of several Arkleys recorded as exhibited at Hawthorn in 1973.

Provenance

  • Artist’s collection (cat.A147)

Exhibited

  • (possibly) Hawthorn City Gallery 1973 (‘Four Painters’) (refer HA Bio 1969-75 and Duncan 1991: 16 and 31)

Animal Study 1972 [W/P]

Pencil on paper, 35.5 x 48
Signed and dated lower right: ‘H ARKLEY 72’ 
Private collection, Melbourne

This assured early work, which came to light at auction in 2020, was acquired by exchange between Arkley and the owner, a fellow final year painting student at Prahran CAE.

It is similar to several exploratory drawings from the period when Arkley was beginning to carve out an independent career. Compare in particular Untitled [birds] (c.1972) [W/P].

Provenance

  • acquired by exchange with Arkley, 1972
  • auctioned by Gibson’s, Armadale, 15 June 2020, lot 117 (details and ill.as shown here; est.$1,500-1,800; sold for $2000 + B/P = $2,440)

Untitled [yellow/blue composition] 1972 [W/P]

Synthetic polymer paint on paper, c.35 x 54
signed and dated [l.r., within image: Howard Arkley 72]
Private collection, Melbourne

An example of Arkley’s transitional style in 1972, combining quirky critters with abstract shapes.

The original purchaser, who still owns the work, made contact following the TarraWarra survey exhibition in 2015, and has since provided a good photograph.

Provenance

  • Avant Gallery, South Yarra
  • Purchased from the above, 1975

1972

Arkley with Laura's Living Black 1972

(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

Elenor Target Prize, Hawthorn City Art Gallery

‘Paces: Work by Painting Students, Prahran CAE’, Ewing Gallery, University of Melbourne, 25 Sept-13 Oct.1972 [check-list in Arkley files]

Zoo drawings nos.1-2 (1972) [W/P]

{details unknown}
Coll.: unknown

The first two of the three drawings documented as exhibited with this title in 1972 are not certainly identified, and possibly no longer extant. However, see Zoo drawing no.3 1972 [W/P], preserved in the artist’s studio collection.

Provenance

  • unknown

Exhibitions

  • Hawthorn City Gallery 1972 (Eleanor Target Prize) [acc.to HA Bio.1969-75 and Duncan 1991:16]