Howard Artkley Sold at Auction Prices

Howard Arkley (1951-99) Australia - Brett Lea

Well known Australian artist who last body of work was featured in the Australia Pavilion, Venice Biennale 1999. The subject of this portrait is Brett Lea, an early work from 1970, and was painted locally in Melbourne by Howard who was also familiar with the strong works of John Brack. One of three children adopted by the wealthy Darrell Lea family, Shelton, Honey and Brett, were treated as secondary to the family. Within a strict Victorian type regime it was not perhaps a happy life, Shelton retreated to poetry and drugs and died 2005. A fuller history has been written by Diana Georgeff. Delinquent Angel, Biography of Shelton Lea. The photograph depicts Howard’s mother at the exhibition opening of his work.