Carnival in Suburbia: The Art of Howard Arkley

by John Gregory

When he died suddenly in Melbourne in July 1999, at the age of 48, Australian painter Howard Arkley had just achieved his greatest successes, receiving international critical acclaim for his work at the Venice Biennale and in Los Angeles. Arkley enjoyed pop themes and imagery, like many of his 'postmodern' generation, but he also developed an idiosyncratic individual style, using heavy, air-brushed lines and vivid colour to produce stylised representations of everyday subjects. Carnival in Suburbia covers Arkley's work thematically, beginning with his best-known works of suburban imagery. Subsequent chapters examine his fascination with pattern, colour and line; a full account for the first time of his creative use of source material; and his collaborations with Juan Davila and other contemporaries. Finally, Arkley is identified as a 'carnivalesque' painter, intrigued by death, grotesque body imagery and masks. John Gregory, an art-historian by profession, was Arkley's brother-in-law.

226 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2006

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Reviews

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, with excellent colour reproductions of Arkley's work. Very enlightening as well on some realities of Arkley's life. I'm glad I chose to read this one last after the other two. Although I vaguely recognised his work when I started this research, I knew nothing of him and I now feel his loss to Australia's arts world keenly.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

the commentary is nothing new, but the biography is interesting.. and of course the pictures are fantastic.