Bernard Hesling (Australia) vitreous enamel plaques, 1960s-80s

Born in Yorkshire, England in 1905, Bernard Hesling arrived in Australia in 1928. Originally a house painter and marbler, Hesling first started painting after meeting Leger, Vlaminck, Laurencin and other French painters in Paris. He modelled his work after Rousseau before moving on to abstracts and cartoons. He migrated to Sydney in 1928 and exhibited his abstract paintings the following year. Cartoons and writing by him appeared in the 'Sydney Morning Herald' as well as many overseas newspapers. Hesling painted numerous murals from 1950 to 1955 in NSW, Victoria, SA and North Queensland and pioneered the use of vitreous enamels in Australia. Hesling wrote art criticism for the Sydney 'Observer' and was an author of 5 books. Hesling was awarded an OAM in June 1985 for his service to the arts. <p>He died in June 1987, aged 82.

Examples of his work are held in the Art more... Gallery of WA, Hamilton Art Gallery, Mitchell Library in Sydney, National Gallery of Australia and State Gallery of SA. less...