Talking with Painters

Ep 87: Davida Allen in conversation with William Robinson


Listen Later

Davida Allen and William Robinson, two of Australia’s leading painters, are not only both Archibald winners and Queenslanders but have been friends for over 40 years.

Although they share their thoughts about the art world and their work, their painting styles and personalities are very different – which might be part of the secret to their long friendship.

Davida’s current show with Philip Bacon Galleries in Brisbane runs until 28 March 2020 and William Robinson will be showing with the Gallery later this year. This interview focuses on Davida’s show and an in-depth interview with William Robinson will be posted closer to his exhibition. Bill is one of Australia’s most important internationally acclaimed painters so to obtain his insights into Davida’s work was a privilege. 

Apart from winning the Archibald, Davida is also a four time finalist in the prize and has had 3 major survey exhibitions of her work, most recently in 2018. She’s had over 20 solo shows and her work is held in nearly every major state gallery as well as the National Gallery of Australia and the MOMA in New York. She’s also a novelist and has written and directed an internationally acclaimed film.

William Robinson is one of Australia’s most significant painters. He has won the Archibald prize twice, the Wynne prize twice and his work is held in over 30 public collections across the world. He is the first Australian artist to have a gallery dedicated to his works – the William Robinson Gallery is located in historic Old Government House in Brisbane.

We met in William Robinson’s magnificent studio at his home in Brisbane.

To hear our conversation click on the play button beneath the above photo.

Current and upcoming shows
  • Davida Allen, solo show, Philip Bacon Galleries current until 28 March 2020
  • William Robinson, solo show, Philip Bacon Galleries, 23 June – 18 July 2020
  • ‘By the Book’, William Robinson Gallery, 2 July – June 2021
  • Show Notes
    • Davida Allen at Philip Bacon Galleries
    • William Robinson at Philip Bacon Galleries
    • William Robinson at Australian Galleries
    • William Robinson Gallery
    • Betty Churcher
    • Ray Hughes
    • Rembrandt
    • Edgar Degas
    • Sam Neill
    • Picasso
    • Henri Sennelier
    • Philip Bacon
    • Davida Allen interviewed by Sarah Kanowski on ABC’s Conversations
    • Davida Allen works
      Davida Allen ‘Dr John Arthur Mckelvie Shera’, 1986, oil on canvas, 230.5 x 187cm
      Winner, 1986 Archibald Prize, AGNSW
      Davida Allen ‘Watching chooks’, 2020, oil pastel on Saunders Waterford paper, 75 x 100cm
      Davida Allen ‘Philip Bacon, art dealer, reading a letter from Barry Humphries’, 2003, oil on canvas, 206 x 150
      Finalist 2003 Archibald Prize, AGNSW
      Davida Allen ‘DEATH of my father’ 1982, oil on canvas, 165.4 x 280cm
      Permanent Collection, National Gallery of Victoria
      Davida Allen ‘I dream of Sam Neill when I go to bed’, 1986, gouache and black chalk, 50 x 71.6cm
      Permanent Collection, National Gallery of Victoria
      William Robinson Works
      William Robinson ‘Self-portrait with stunned mullet’, 1994, oil on linen, 197 x 164cm
      Winner Archibald Prize 1995
      QUT Art Collection. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by William Robinson, 2011.
      William Robinson ‘Equestrian self-portrait’, 1987, oil on linen, 141 x 192cm
      Winner Archibald Prize 1987
      QUT Art Collection. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by William Robinson, 2011 
      William Robinson ‘The blue pools: Springbrook to Beechmont’, 2000, oil on linen, 203 x 259cm
      QUT Art Collection. Purchased 2013
      William Robinson ‘Farmyard with Corner Shed’, 2016, gouache on paper, 46 x 61cm
      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      Talking with PaintersBy Maria Stoljar

      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6

      4.6

      58 ratings


      More shows like Talking with Painters

      View all
      The Modern Art Notes Podcast by Tyler Green

      The Modern Art Notes Podcast

      477 Listeners

      Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood by Antrese Wood

      Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood

      857 Listeners

      Creative Pep Talk by Andy J. Pizza

      Creative Pep Talk

      1,971 Listeners

      The Week in Art by The Art Newspaper

      The Week in Art

      199 Listeners

      Dialogues: The David Zwirner Podcast by David Zwirner

      Dialogues: The David Zwirner Podcast

      407 Listeners

      Talk Art by Russell Tovey and Robert Diament

      Talk Art

      483 Listeners

      Art Juice: A podcast for artists, creatives and art lovers by Louise Fletcher/Alice Sheridan

      Art Juice: A podcast for artists, creatives and art lovers

      724 Listeners

      The Great Women Artists by Katy Hessel

      The Great Women Artists

      517 Listeners

      Learn to Paint Podcast by Learn to Paint Podcast

      Learn to Paint Podcast

      289 Listeners

      The Art Angle by Artnet News

      The Art Angle

      331 Listeners

      Art Wank by Fiona Verity, Julie Nicholson and Gary Seller

      Art Wank

      11 Listeners

      A brush with... by The Art Newspaper

      A brush with...

      137 Listeners

      Windowsill Chats by Margo Tantau

      Windowsill Chats

      331 Listeners

      Art2Life by Nicholas Wilton

      Art2Life

      580 Listeners

      Australian Women Artists by Richard Graham

      Australian Women Artists

      1 Listeners