Hal Missingham
Encyclopedia
Harold "Hal" Missingham AO
(8 December 19069 April 1994) was an Australian artist, Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales
from 1945 to 1971,. and president of the Australian Watercolour Institute
from 1952 to 1955.
, Missingham was educated at Perth Boys' School
, and later undertook an apprenticeship to the process engraver J. Gibney and Son in 1922. He studied drawing at Perth Technical School
, attended art schools in both Paris (1926) and London (1926–1932).
From 1927-1928 Missingham worked in Canada as a freelance artist and teacher. Before World War II he studied in Perth, Paris and London, where he became friendly with a number of leading artists and developed an interest in photography. He returned to Sydney in 1941 and after serving as a Signalman in the Second Australian Imperial Force
helped to found the Studio of Realist Art. In 1945 he succeeded Will Ashton
as the Director of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales
, a post he retained until 1971. His time as Director witnessed the renaming of the gallery following the "Art Gallery of New South Wales Act 1958" and the Gallery's name was reverted to "The Art Gallery of New South Wales". He also oversaw the expansion of the gallery including the construction of the Captain Cook Wing from 1968-1970. His collection policy made an outstanding contribution to Australian contemporary art and he was responsible for bringing a number of influential international exhibitions to the country. His memoirs, "They Kill You in the End", were published in 1971
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia on 26 January 1978 for service to arts, particularly as Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
He retired to Darlington
, in the hills east of Perth, where his personal collection of paintings and photographs was destroyed by fire in 1986.
He was survived by his wife Esther (née Long) 1911- whom he was married to for over 50 years.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(8 December 19069 April 1994) was an Australian artist, Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
from 1945 to 1971,. and president of the Australian Watercolour Institute
Australian Watercolour Institute
The Australian Watercolour Institute is a non-profit membership organization devoted to the advancement of watercolour painting in Australia. It was founded in 1923 by six painters in Sydney, and was modeled after the Royal Watercolour Society and the American Watercolor Society.-History:The AWI's...
from 1952 to 1955.
Biography
Born in Claremont, Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, Missingham was educated at Perth Boys' School
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts is a contemporary visual and performance arts venue located in Perth, Western Australia.-History:...
, and later undertook an apprenticeship to the process engraver J. Gibney and Son in 1922. He studied drawing at Perth Technical School
Old Perth Technical School
The 1910 Perth Technical School is located at 137 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, adjacent to the Old Perth Boys School building....
, attended art schools in both Paris (1926) and London (1926–1932).
From 1927-1928 Missingham worked in Canada as a freelance artist and teacher. Before World War II he studied in Perth, Paris and London, where he became friendly with a number of leading artists and developed an interest in photography. He returned to Sydney in 1941 and after serving as a Signalman in the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
helped to found the Studio of Realist Art. In 1945 he succeeded Will Ashton
Will Ashton
Sir John William "Will" Ashton OBE, ROI was a British-Australian artist and Director of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales from 1937 to 1945.-Early life:...
as the Director of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
, a post he retained until 1971. His time as Director witnessed the renaming of the gallery following the "Art Gallery of New South Wales Act 1958" and the Gallery's name was reverted to "The Art Gallery of New South Wales". He also oversaw the expansion of the gallery including the construction of the Captain Cook Wing from 1968-1970. His collection policy made an outstanding contribution to Australian contemporary art and he was responsible for bringing a number of influential international exhibitions to the country. His memoirs, "They Kill You in the End", were published in 1971
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia on 26 January 1978 for service to arts, particularly as Director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
He retired to Darlington
Darlington, Western Australia
Darlington, Western Australia, is a locality in the Shire of Mundaring on the Darling Scarp, dissected by Nyaania Creek and north of the Helena River.- Location :...
, in the hills east of Perth, where his personal collection of paintings and photographs was destroyed by fire in 1986.
He was survived by his wife Esther (née Long) 1911- whom he was married to for over 50 years.