List of Australian art critics (news periodicals)

……

This is a sortable list of Australian art critics who wrote for newspapers in the nineteenth[1] and twentieth centuries, a period in which such periodicals carried the majority of current, contemporaneous art criticism,[2] before most such papers ceased art reviews in the 21st century.[3]

Hamilton[4] writes to distinguish this genre:

...criticism that appears in newspapers is written for a general audience, and the real substance of newspaper art criticism can best be summed up as providing an antidote for the ‘vernacular glance’. This term, coined by art historian Brian O’Doherty in 1974,[5] refers to the modern phenomenon of viewing an exhibition casually, with eyes darting indiscriminately from object to object in an ineffectual effort to take in the entire exhibition at once. The work of the critic is effectively to map an exhibition for an audience, and thereby transform the vernacular glance into an informed glance that is capable of discerning either meaning or emptiness in the work on show.

Barker and Green, noting the number of art critics writing for newspapers in the 1970s, consider that 'this writing was essentially ephemeral, based on the assessment of the wide spectrum of […] exclusively local, art exhibitions. It was essentially a form of reportage.[6]

In 2012 Osborne noticed a general devaluing and disparagement of the newspaper critic and warned that:

… the progressively weakened position of newspaper art criticism and the threat of it disappearing altogether from mass market newspapers […] could have far-reaching repercussions […] a nodal rupture in the network of relationships between the art world and the wider public. The complex ecology of the art world needs this link with the wider public. It needs a healthy balance between critical writing in art journals and newspapers.[7]

Nineteenth- and twentieth-century newspaper and magazine critics
Surname First name Life Newspaper or Magazine Dates
Adams Bruce 1950– The Australian 1972–74
Adams Bruce 1950– Sunday Telegraph 1972–74
Allen Christopher 1953– Australian Financial Review 2005–2008
Allen Mary Cecil 1893–1962 The Sun News-Pictorial 1925
Allen[8] Christopher 1953– The Australian 2008>
Allen Christopher 1953– The Sydney Morning Herald 1987–1991
Ashton (Julian) Howard 1877–1964 The Argus 1910–11
Ashton (Julian) Howard 1877–1964 Sydney Sun c.1912–c.1936
Auty[8] Giles 1934–2020 The Australian 1995–2001
Baily Harold John 1927– Sunday Mail (S.A.) 1963–64
Bell George 1878–1966 The Sun News-Pictorial 1923-50
Bellew Peter Richard 1912–1986 The Sydney Morning Herald 1939–42
Benson George Courtney The West Australian 1931>?
Borlase[8] Nancy 1914– The Sydney Morning Herald 1973–81
Borlase[8] Nancy 1914– The Bulletin 1972–73
Britton Stephanie The News (S.A.) 1971-77
Britton Stephanie Sunday Mail (S.A.) 1980
Bromfield[8] David 1947– 2024 The West Australian late 80s-1990s
Brook[8] Donald 1927–2018 Canberra Times c.1964-65
Brook[8] Donald 1927–2018 The Sydney Morning Herald 1968-1973?
Burdett Basil 1897–1942 Brisbane Daily Mail 1919-21
Burdett Basil 1897–1942 Herald (Melbourne) 1936
Burke Carolyn 1940–1989 Various international, incl. The New York Times 1990>
Bush Charles William 1919–1989 The Australian 1966
Campbell Jean 1901–1984 The Advertiser 1952–1974
Campbell Jean 1901–1984 The Courier-Mail 1952–1974?
Carrington Francis Thomas Dean (Tom) 1843–1918 The Argus
Carrington Francis Thomas Dean (Tom) 1843–1918 The Australasian 1889
Catalano Gary 1947–2002 The Age 1985–1990
Cazneaux Harold Pierce 1878–1953 Sydney Mail ??
Cazneaux Harold Pierce 1878–1953 The Lone Hand ??
Chapman Dora Cecil 1911–1995 The Advertiser 1958–69
Colquhoun Alexander 1862-1941 Herald (Melbourne) 1914-1922
Colquhoun Alexander 1862-1941 The Age 1926-1941
Cook Arthur Vollens 1909–1967 The Age 1946–57
Cook William Edward James 1904–1960 Daily Telegraph 1952-1959
Cooper Charles Gordon (Professor) ? The Courier-Mail c.1940s
Cramer Sue The Age
Cross Elizabeth 1943– The Sydney Morning Herald ??
Cross Elizabeth 1943– The Age ??
de Groen Geoffrey 1938– Canberra Times 1973–77
de Groen Geoffrey 1938– National Times 1973–77
Dickinson Sidney 1851–1919 Australasian Critic 1889-91
Dolan David 1949–2011 The Advertiser 1977–80
Dolan David 1949–2011 Sunday Mail (S.A.) 1974–77
Dutton Geoffrey 1922–1998 The News (S.A.) 1958–62
Eagle Mary 1944 The Age 1977–1980
Faerber Ruth 1922 Australian Jewish Times 1970s
Faust Beatrice Eileen 1939–2019 The Age 1970s
Faust Beatrice Eileen 1939–2019 National Times 1970s
Fitzgerald Paul 1922-2017 The Argus c.1940
Francis Ivor Pengelly 1906–1993 The News (S.A.) 1944–1955
Francis Ivor Pengelly 1906–1993 Sunday Mail (S.A.) 1964-74
Francis Ivor Pengelly 1906–1993 The Advertiser 1974–76
Freiberg[9] Freda 1933–2024 The Age 1990s
Frost Andrew Guardian Australia Current
Genocchio[8] Benjamin 1969– The Australian 1998-2002
George Robert Esmond 1888–1959 Sunday Mail (S.A.) 1946–c.1966
Gleeson[8] James Timothy 1915–2008 Sun-Herald 1962-74
Gleeson[8] James Timothy 1915–2008 Sydney Sun 1949-74
Gough Craig Alan 1938– Sunday Times (WA) 1972–73
Grishin Sasha 1950– Canberra Times 1977–2023
Haefliger[8] Paul 1914-1982 The Sydney Morning Herald 1941–1957
Hamilton Charles (wrote as 'C.G.') 1874–1967 West Australian c.1907–1920s
Hannon William 1932–2020 The Bulletin 1960–65
Hansen David 1958–2024 The Age 1990s
Harpur Royston 1938–2023 Sydney Observer 1960
Harpur Royston 1938–2023 The Australian 1971
Harrison Henry Bromilow 1878–1948 The Argus 1912–1943
Harrison Henry Bromilow 1878–1948 The Australian ??
Heathcote Christopher The Age 1990s
Heffernan Edward Bonaventura 1912 Geelong Advertiser 1966–74
Henshaw John George 1929–2006 The Australian 1969–70
Herbert Harold Brocklebank 1891–1945 The Sun News-Pictorial c1936>
Herbert Harold Brocklebank 1891–1945 The Argus c1936>
Herbert Harold Brocklebank 1891–1945 The Australasian 1927-1934…
Herbert Harold Brocklebank 1891–1945 The Australasian c.1932
Holloway Memory 1946– The Melbourne Times 1977–78
Holloway Memory 1946– The Australian[10] 1978-81
Holloway Memory 1946– The Age[11] 1982–86
Hughes[12][13] Robert 1938–2012 The Age 1963–c.1970
Hughes[12][13] Robert 1938–2012 Sydney Observer 1958–59
Hughes[12][13] Robert 1938–2012 Nation Review 1959–1963
Hughes[12][13] Robert 1938–2012 Sunday Mirror 1963
Irving Pamela 1960– Geelong Advertiser c.1980s
Hutak Michael The Bulletin 1999–2007
Hutak Michael The Sydney Morning Herald >1997
Hutchings Patrick 1929– The Bulletin 1961…
Klepac Lou 1936– The News (S.A.) 1967–70
Langer[4] Gertrude 1908–1984 The Courier-Mail 1953–1984
Lansell G. Ross ? Nation Review 1966-67
Lansell G. Ross ? Daily Telegraph 1967–78
Lawlor Adrian 1889–1969 The Bulletin 1921–23
Leason Percy 1889–1959 Table Talk 1929-1933…
Leckie Malcolm (Mal) John Sewart 1952 Goldcoast City Bulletin 1978
Lindsay Raymond 1903-1960 Daily Telegraph 1940>
Lindsay Lionel Arthur 1874–1961 The Bulletin 1890s–1900s
Lindsay Lionel Arthur 1874–1961 The Lone Hand 1907-21
Lindsay Lionel Arthur 1874–1961 Herald (Melbourne) 1935
Lindsay Norman 1879–1969 The Lone Hand Occasional c.1907–21
Loureiro[14] Marie Therese ? – 1907 The Age late 1800s
Loxton John Samuel 1903–1971 The Argus 1947–48
Lynn[8] Elwyn 1917–1997 Nation Review 1969
Lynn[8] Elwyn 1917–1997 Sunday Mirror 1963
Lynn[8] Elwyn 1917–1997 The Australian
Lynn[8] Elwyn 1917–1997 The Bulletin 1966-1973
MacDonald James Stuart (Jimmy) 1878–1952 Herald (Melbourne) 1923…
MacDonald James Stuart (Jimmy) 1878–1952 The Age 1943-47
Macgeorge Norman 1872–1952 Herald (Melbourne) Late 1930s
Mahood Marguerite Henriette 1901–1989 Radio and Listener In Mid-1920s
Makin[15] Jeffrey 1943 The Sun News-Pictorial 1972–87 1997–
Maloon[8] Terence 1950– The Sydney Morning Herald 1982-1987
Mather John Baxter 1853–1940 The Advertiser 1889-1904
McCaughey[16] Patrick 1942– The Age 1966–69 1971–74
McCulloch Alan McLeod 1907–1992 The Argus 1944-1947
McCulloch Alan McLeod 1907–1992 Herald (Melbourne) 1951-1981
McCulloch[8] Susan 1949- The Age 1980s
McCulloch[8] Susan 1949- The Sun News-Pictorial 1980s
McCulloch[8] Susan 1949- The Australian 1994-2004
McCulloch[8] Susan 1949- The Bulletin 1980s
McDonald John 1961 The Sydney Morning Herald 1987–2017 ?
McGrath[8] Sandra ?? The Australian 1972
McGrath[8] Sandra ?? The Bulletin occasional
McInnes Colin 1914-1976 London Observer 1948–50
McIntyre Arthur 1945–2003 The Australian 1977–78
McIntyre Arthur 1945–2003 The Age 1980s
McIntyre Alan Lester 1913 Examiner 1960s?
McIntyre Alan Lester 1913-2002 The Bulletin pre-WW2
McIntyre Alan Lester 1913-2002 Smiths Weekly pre-WW2
McKinnon Thomas Firmin 1878–1953 The Courier-Mail 1940s-1950s
McNally Matthew James 1874–1943 Daily Telegraph occasional
McNally Matthew James 1874–1943 The News (South Australia) occasional
McNally Matthew James 1874–1943 The Mail (South Australia) occasional
North Ian The News (South Australia) 1971-72 1974
Mendelssohn Joanna 1949– The Bulletin 1988>
Merrifield Hilary (nee Hunter) West Australian 1960s
Millar Ronald Grenville 1927 The Australian 1965–70
Millar Ronald Grenville 1927 Herald (Melbourne) 1965 1981–93
Moore William George 1868–1937 The Courier-Mail c.1919>
Moore William George 1868–1937 Daily Telegraph c.1919>
Moore William George 1868–1937 Herald (Melbourne) 1904>
Nelson[8] Robert 1957– The Age 1984 - 1990s
Neville Greg 1951– The Age 1990–1993
Nibbi Gino 1896–1969 Herald (Melbourne) occasional
Peir Clifton Thomas Almont 1905–1985 The Sunday Mirror 1961–62
Perry Tony ? The Age 1978–1981
Philpot Ernest Sidney 1906 Sunday Times (WA) 1961–65
Pidgeon William Edwin 'WEP' 1909–1981 Daily Telegraph 1974–1979
Preston Margaret Rose 1875–1963 Art in Australia 1924–1940
Riddell Elizabeth 1910–1998 The Australian 1960s
Rooney[8] Robert 1937–2017 The Age 1980-July 1982
Rooney Robert 1937–2017 The Australian 1982–99
Ross (Sanders) Christine Alexandra 1944 Newcastle Morning Herald 1971–
Seidel Brian 1928–2019 The News (S.A.) 1963–1966
Shannon David Michael 1927–1993 The Australian 1973–75
Sheridan Noel Sunday Mail (S.A.) 1977–80
Shore Arnold Joseph Victor 1897–1963 The Argus 1949–1957
Shore Arnold Joseph Victor 1897–1963 The Age 1957–1963
Skipper Mervyn 1886–1959 The Bulletin 1930-31…1956–59
Skipper Mervyn 1886–1959 The Lone Hand
Smart Jeffrey (Frank Jeffrey Edson) 1921– Daily Telegraph 1952–54
Smee Sebastian 1972– The Australian c.2004–2008
Smith[17][8] Bernard 1916–2011 The Age 1963–1966
Smith Ernest Walter 1928 Sunday Mail (S.A.) 1963
Smith James 1820-1910 The Age 1854
Smith James 1820-1910 The Argus 1860s
Stevens William Bertram (Bert) 1872–1922 The Bulletin 1909–10
Stevens William Bertram (Bert) 1872–1922 The Lone Hand 1912-18
Streeton Arthur 1867–1943 The Argus 1867–1943
Sweetapple[18] Agnes Theodora (Dora) 1899–1987 The Sydney Morning Herald 1950s–?
Thomas[8] Daniel Rhys 1931 Sunday Telegraph 1962–66 1968–69
Thomas[8] Daniel Rhys 1931 The Sydney Morning Herald 1970–75
Thomas[8] Daniel Rhys 1931 The Bulletin 1976–77
Thomas[8] Laurence Nicholas Barrett (Laurie) 1915–1974 Herald (Melbourne) 1949-50
Thomas[8] Laurence Nicholas Barrett (Laurie) 1915–1974 The Australian 1968-73
Thompson Gerald Marr 1856–1938 Daily Telegraph C.1883-6
Thornton Wallace Keogh 1915–1991 The Sydney Morning Herald 1957–67
Tildesley Evelyn Mary 1882-1976 Australian Women's Weekly 1923-35
Timms Peter 1948 The Age 1990s
Timms Peter 1948 The Australian 1990s
Turnbull Stanley Clive Perry 1906–1975 Herald (Melbourne) 1943-48
Vanzetti Francesco Cesare Luigi Stefano 1878–1967 West Australian c.1929...c.1952?
Veal Hayward Wilfred 1913–1968 Daily News (Sydney) 1937–c.1951?
Walker Wendy 1946– The Australian 2006-2016
Walker Wendy 1946– The Advertiser 1999-2006
Ward Peter The Australian 1976–2002
Warren Alan 1919–1991 The Sun News-Pictorial 1951–72
Webb Elizabeth The Courier-Mail 1940s–1950s
Wieneke James 1906–1981 Brisbane Telegraph 1949–50
Wilkie Leslie Andrew 1879–1935 The Age briefly
Willis Anne-Marie Nation Review c.1977
Wood Rex Thomas Percy Reginald 1908–1970 ? ?
Young Elizabeth The Advertiser 1952–74
Young William Blamire 1862–1935 Herald (Melbourne) 1929–34


Bibliography

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  • Anderson, Peter (2001), "A question of critical spin : The state of art criticism in Australia", Eyeline (46): 54–55, ISSN 0818-8734
  • Chanin, Eileen (2006), Art Criticism in Australia 1866 - 1973, College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, retrieved 28 November 2024
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References

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  5. ^ O’Doherty, Brian (1973). "Rauschenberg and the vernacular glance". Art in America. 61 (5): 82–87.
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  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Genocchio, Benjamin (2002), Genocchio, Benjamin (ed.), The art of persuasion : Australian art criticism 1950-2001, Benjamin: Craftsman House Fine Art Publishing, ISBN 978-1-877004-11-7
  9. ^ Freiberg, Freda (7 May 1997). "Koons takes the cake for art ads". The Age. pp. C7.
  10. ^ Holloway, Memory (15 June 1978). "With a little bit of angst". The Australian.
  11. ^ Holloway, Memory (28 July 1982). "Art : Olsen pays tribute to his companions". The Age. p. 14.
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  14. ^ "Loureiro, Marie Therese (?–1907)". Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  15. ^ Makin, Jeffrey (2011). Critical moments : essays and reviews on art in Australia. Melbourne: Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-921394-19-5.
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