Bio
Ronald Elliot Bull (Australian Aboriginal 1942-1979) Bio
Ronald was born at Lake Tyers Mission Station Victoria in 1942. Bull’s artistic talent was evident at a young age. He Studied many Australian & English artist including John Constable, J. M. W. Turner, Arthur Streeton and Hans Heysen whom Ronald contacted and also visited, He also informally studied under Ernest Buckmaster.
Ronald spent several terms in Pentridge prison for minor offences but during his stay he painted one of the most impactful mural of his carrier located on a large wall in Division F, the work depicting a Aboriginal camp with three men after coming back from a hunt. Being part of one of the stolen generation Ronald painted the mural in respect to his ancestors past before colonization, something he was removed from at a early age. The work was restored and preserved at the former penitentiary as part of Aboriginal cultural heritage at its closing in 1997.
After Pentridge Ronald Continued to paint and work to get recognition in the Australian art scene with his first exhibition held at Mowell in 1965, He also married Lynette Davies the same year. The following years (1966-1967) Ronald continued to exhibate in solo and group exhibitions most notably an exhibition held with Keith Namatjira (one of four sons of Albert Namatjira) and in 1975 sold a painting for $1150 at the Melbourne Art Show, Ronald was also held in an exhibition in 1976 by Sir Douglas Nicholls, Who described Ronald as Australia’s greatest native artist.
Sadly in 1979 Ronald past away at age 32. Taken too soon, Ronald left a impression on the Australian art scene, sadly in the 1980s His works as well as works by artists like Albert Namatjira where overshadowed by The Central Desert Art Movement, which involved traditional dot painting by the likes of Michael Jagamara (also spelt Jagamarra or Tjakamarra) and Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. he painted over 2000 works during his career and was alive during one of Australia’s biggest art movements in 50s, 60s and 70s.
