Author Description

Kevin Connor, born 1932, has had an exceptional career as an artist. He has won the Archibald prize on two occasions as well as the Dobell Drawing Prize twice. He has had regular exhibitions of his work and a retrospective at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1989. There was a magnificent survey exhibition of his drawings at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2006, with a book published in conjunction with the exhibition. Connor may not be as well known as he should be, partly due to his reticence and need to keep a low profile. However, when one comes across one of his works in a public gallery, his painting stands out by the sheer force and authority of it as a work of art, and proves to be a revelation. Connor¿s main focus has been Sydney, the city where he lives and works. He sees this city as an organic ever changing metropolis that moves with the same rhythm as all the great cities of the world. Connor is also an indefatigable and prolific draughtsman. Drawing is a vital element in his work; he says that the activity is `a form of meditation and seeing ¿ out of my drawing comes everything¿. This important period of Connor¿s work is discussed by Elizabeth Hastings in her text, where she delves into the creative imagination of this singular and fascinating artist, and helps us to understand the complexities of his powerful works. The book, which contains 164 plates, covers the period 1983¿2016 and includes paintings, gouaches, drawings and sculpture.