Clifton Ernest Pugh (1924-1990)

Biography

1924 Born 17th December, in Richmond, Victoria
1942 Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces becoming a draughtsman for the Infantry Intelligence
1947-49 Attended the National Gallery of Victoria Art School from under the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Training Scheme
1951 Bought a tract of bush near Cottles Bridge, about 30 miles outside of Melbourne, which he named 'Dunmoochin'. Here he was greatly inspired by the natural environment. As Pugh acquired more land, other artists came and joined him
1953 Formed the Dunmoochin Artists Society
1957 First solo show at the Victorian Artists Society Gallery, where he displayed both landscape and portraiture. The show was well received by critics.
1965 Won the Archibald Prize for a portrait of R.A.G Henderson and in
1971 Awarded his second Archibald Prize for a portrait of Sir John McEwan
1972 Won the Archibald Prize with a portrait of Gough Whitlam
1989 Established the Dunmoochin Foundation to preserve the bushland and enable other artists to use the studios in future
1990 Named the Australian War Memorial's official artist at the 75th Anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli
1990 Died in October

Exhibitions

Pugh has had numerous solo exhibitions in Australia. Pugh's work has been included in many important survey shows of Australian contemporary art, in both Australia and abroad. Selected exhibitions include:
1955 'Group of 4', Victorian Artists' Society Galleries, Melbourne
1956 'Group of 4', Victorian Artists' Society Galleries, Melbourne
1956 First solo exhibition, Johnstone Gallery, Brisbane
1958 'Dunmoochin Group', Victorian Artists' Society Galleries, Melbourne
1959 Survey show of contemporary painters, National Gallery of Australia, Melbourne
1959 Solo exhibition, South Australian Art Gallery, Adelaide
1959 'The Antipodeans', Victorian Artists' Society Galleries, Melbourne
1965, 71, 72 Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

Awards

Pugh has won many prizes Australia-wide throughout his career, including:
1965 Archibald Prize
1971 Archibald Prize
1972 Archibald Prize
1985 Order of Australia

Collections

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra and all state gallery collections
Numerous Australian university collections, regional galleries, public collections
Private collections both here and abroad