Bio
Kevin Charles “Pro” Hart MBE Bio
He was an Australian artist, born in Broken Hill, New South Wales, who was considered the father of the Australian Outback painting movement and his works are widely admired for capturing the true spirit of the outback. He grew up on his family’s sheep farm in Menindee, New South Wales and was nicknamed “Professor” (hence “Pro”) during his younger days, when he was known as an inventor. His pictures are typically painted with oil or acrylic, using paint brushes and sponges, and depict scenes of rural town life, topical commentary, and some religious subjects. His illustrations for the collection of Henry Lawson’s poems show keen powers of character observation combined with an obvious wit. Hart was also a sculptor, working with welded steel, bronze and ceramics. Pro Hart was known for his novel techniques including “cannon painting” and “balloon painting” and in 2002 was using his own DNA as a mark of authenticity in his paintings.
In 1960, at the age of 32 he married Raylee June Tonkin, 19, and together they had five children. He continued to paint and took art classes to help formalise his technique. He was discovered by Kim Bonython, a gallery owner from Adelaide, in 1962 and his popularity as an outback artist began to climb.
Collection after collection would sell out and Pro began traveling the world. He met Kings and Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers and his art resides in large international collections.
Pro Hart was one of the members of the Brush men of the Bush – a group of five artists who exhibited in Australia and all over the world for many years raising money for charity, The five members of the group were Pro Hart, Eric Minchin, Jack Absalom, John Pickup, Pat Coffee and Hugh Schulz
Awards
He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1976. In 1982 he received an Honorary Life Membership of Society International Artistique for outstanding artistic achievement.
International Collections
- Harold Mertz, U.S.A.
- Lyndon Johnson, U.S.A.
- Prince Phillip, London.
- Cathay Pacific Airlines, Hong Kong.
- Menachem Begin, Israel.
- Madam Jihan El Sadat, Egypt
- Warsaw National Gallery, Poland.
Australian Collections
- National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
- State Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania.
- War Memorial, Canberra.
- University of N.S.W.
- Macquarie University, N.S.W.
- Art Gallery of N.S.W.
- Sydney Opera House
- State Gallery of South Australia
- Kim Bonython, South Australia
- QANTAS Airlines
- Margaret Carnegie, N.S.W.
