Clifton Pugh (1924 - 1990)

BIOGRAPHY
Clifton Ernest Pugh, was born on the 17th December, 1924 in Richmond, Victoria. In 1942, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces becoming a draughtsman for the Infantry Intelligence. On returning to Australia, he attended the National Gallery of Victoria Art School from 1947 to 1949 under the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Training Scheme.

In 1951 he 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 and in 1953 they became the Dunmoochin Artists Society.

Pugh’s first solo show was in 1957 at the Victorian Artists Society Gallery, where he displayed both landscape and portraiture. The show was well received by critics.

Pugh had become known for both his landscapes and portraiture, winning the Archibald in 1965 for a portrait of R.A.G Henderson and in 1971 for Sir John McEwan. He played a significant role in the development of the Australian Labor Party’s arts policy, and in 1972 won the Archibald Prize with a portrait of Gough Whitlam.

At the 75th Anniversary of the landing Gallipoli (1990), Pugh was named the Australian War Memorial’s official artist.

Pugh died in October, 1990, having set up the Dunmoochin Foundation the year before, to preserve the bushland and enable other artists to use the studios in future.

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.

AWARDS
1965    Archibald Prize
1971    Archibald Prize
1972    Archibald Prize
1985    Order of Australia
Pugh has won many prizes Australia-wide throughout his career.

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