Vladas Meskenas
Encyclopedia
Vladas Meškėnas is an Australia
n–Lithuania
n artist, who has been a frequent Archibald Prize
finalist.
He moved to Sydney, Australia, as a displaced person
in 1949 and there joined the Sydney Lithuanian artists' group "Aitvaras", established in 1950, which included Jurgis Bistrickas, Henry Salkauskas, Algis Simkunas, Vladas Meskenas, Jurgis Miksevicius, Juozas Kalgovas, Vincas Stanevicius, Petras Repsys
, Viktoras Simas and later Vaclovas Ratas.
His 1961 portrait of Weaver Hawkins was a notable entrant in the 1961 Archibald Prize contest, and a 1963 portrait of Hawkins and his wife was entered for the 1963 Sulman Prize
. A portrait won the Helena Rubinstein
prize in 1963. His entry for the 1988 Archibald Prize
, a portrait of Rene Rivkin, was not well received by Edmund Capon
, director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales
. His portrait of Donald Friend
won the Archibald's Peoples Choice Award in 1989. His portrait of Dr Victor Chang
was a notable finalist in the 1991/92 Archibald
, as was his 1993 portrait of Fred Hollows
. The Victor Chang
portrait was later notoriously mis-attributed by Woman's Day
. He was a successful finalist for the Moran Prize
in 1990 for Donald Friend
and in 1992 for David Foster O.A.M.
He created a pastel sketch of John Olsen
in 1962 and an oil portrait of William Dobell
in 1964. His portraits are held by various institutions: Sir Lorimer Fenton Dods (1964) by the Westmead Children's Hospital,
Desiderius Orban
(1986) by the State Library of New South Wales
, Max Schubert
(1993) by Southcorp Wines.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n–Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n artist, who has been a frequent Archibald Prize
Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in Australia. It was first awarded in 1921 after a bequest from J. F. Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin who died in 1919...
finalist.
He moved to Sydney, Australia, as a displaced person
Displaced person
A displaced person is a person who has been forced to leave his or her native place, a phenomenon known as forced migration.- Origin of term :...
in 1949 and there joined the Sydney Lithuanian artists' group "Aitvaras", established in 1950, which included Jurgis Bistrickas, Henry Salkauskas, Algis Simkunas, Vladas Meskenas, Jurgis Miksevicius, Juozas Kalgovas, Vincas Stanevicius, Petras Repsys
Petras Repšys
Petras Repšys is a Lithuanian artist.In 1994 the University of Vilnius adopted his rendition of its coat of arms. His fresco "The Seasons of the War" is prominently displayed at the University....
, Viktoras Simas and later Vaclovas Ratas.
His 1961 portrait of Weaver Hawkins was a notable entrant in the 1961 Archibald Prize contest, and a 1963 portrait of Hawkins and his wife was entered for the 1963 Sulman Prize
Sulman Prize
The Sir John Sulman Prize is one of Australia's longest running art prizes, having been established in 1936.It is now held concurrently with the Archibald Prize, Australia's best known art prize, and also with the Wynne Prize, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales , Sydney.-Criteria:The Sir John...
. A portrait won the Helena Rubinstein
Helena Rubinstein
Helena Rubinstein , a Polish born Australian-American business magnate. She is the founder and eponym of Helena Rubinstein, Incorporated, which made her one of the world's richest women.-Early life:...
prize in 1963. His entry for the 1988 Archibald Prize
Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in Australia. It was first awarded in 1921 after a bequest from J. F. Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin who died in 1919...
, a portrait of Rene Rivkin, was not well received by Edmund Capon
Edmund Capon
Edmund George Capon AM, OBE, is an art scholar specialising in Chinese art. He has been director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales since 1978...
, 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...
. His portrait of Donald Friend
Donald Friend
Donald Stuart Leslie Friend was an Australian artist, writer and diarist.- Early life :Born in Sydney, precociously talented both as an artist and a writer, Friend grew up in the artistic circle of his bohemian mother...
won the Archibald's Peoples Choice Award in 1989. His portrait of Dr Victor Chang
Victor Chang
Victor Peter Chang, AC , was a Chinese Australian cardiac surgeon and a pioneer of modern heart transplantation. Born in Shanghai to Australian-born Chinese parents, he grew up in Hong Kong before moving to Australia...
was a notable finalist in the 1991/92 Archibald
Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in Australia. It was first awarded in 1921 after a bequest from J. F. Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin who died in 1919...
, as was his 1993 portrait of Fred Hollows
Fred Hollows
Frederick "Fred" Cossom Hollows, AC was an ophthalmologist who became known for his work in restoring eyesight for countless thousands of people in Australia and many other countries...
. The Victor Chang
Victor Chang
Victor Peter Chang, AC , was a Chinese Australian cardiac surgeon and a pioneer of modern heart transplantation. Born in Shanghai to Australian-born Chinese parents, he grew up in Hong Kong before moving to Australia...
portrait was later notoriously mis-attributed by Woman's Day
Woman's Day
Woman's Day is aimed at a female readership, covering such subjects as food, nutrition, fitness, beauty and fashion. The magazine edition is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines....
. He was a successful finalist for the Moran Prize
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize is an annual Australian portrait prize founded by Doug Moran in 1988, the year of Australia's Bicentenary. It is the richest portrait prize in the world with A$150,000 awarded to the winner and A$10,000 awarded to the runner-up...
in 1990 for Donald Friend
Donald Friend
Donald Stuart Leslie Friend was an Australian artist, writer and diarist.- Early life :Born in Sydney, precociously talented both as an artist and a writer, Friend grew up in the artistic circle of his bohemian mother...
and in 1992 for David Foster O.A.M.
David Foster (woodchopper)
David "Big Dave" Foster OAM is a world champion woodchopper, and Tasmanian community figure.He started woodchopping with his father, George Foster, in 1978, and between them they won the World 600 mm Double-handed Sawing Championship eleven years straight...
He created a pastel sketch of John Olsen
John Olsen (artist)
John Henry Olsen, AO, OBE is an Australian artist. Olsen's primary subject of work is landscape.-Biography:John Olsen was born in Newcastle on 21 January 1928 and moved to Bondi Beach with his family in 1935, which began his lifelong fascination with Sydney Harbour...
in 1962 and an oil portrait of William Dobell
William Dobell
Sir William Dobell, OBE was an Australian artist .The electoral Division of Dobell is named after him.- Life :...
in 1964. His portraits are held by various institutions: Sir Lorimer Fenton Dods (1964) by the Westmead Children's Hospital,
Desiderius Orban
Desiderius Orban
Desiderius Orban OBE was a renowned Hungarian-born Australian painter, printmaker and teacher. He was influenced by the paintings of Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne.-Biography:...
(1986) by the State Library of New South Wales
State Library of New South Wales
The State Library of New South Wales is a large public library owned by the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Macquarie Street, Sydney near Shakespeare Place...
, Max Schubert
Max Schubert
Max Schubert AM was a pioneering Australian winemaker who is best known as the creator of Grange Hermitage.-Career:He joined Penfolds in the early 1930s as a messenger boy and became chief winemaker in 1948 through 1975...
(1993) by Southcorp Wines.
Sources
- McCulloch, Alan Encyclopedia of Australian Art Hutchinson of London 1968