Dancer I

Early Life and Education

• Born: October 31, 1945, in Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia.
• Early Inspiration: Arthur McIntyre’s initial artistic drive stemmed from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio program, the Argonauts Club. As “Atropos 30,” he submitted drawings to the show and received encouragement from its art critic, Jeffrey Smart.
• Award & Scholarship: In 1962, while at Katoomba High School, McIntyre was awarded the ABC’s Commonwealth Art Award by Jeffrey Smart. He excelled academically, becoming Dux of his high school and earning two university scholarships.
• Formal Training: He chose to study at Alexander Mackie Teachers College (now Sydney's National Art School) from 1963-1966.

Artistic Career and Style

• Teaching & Full-Time Artist: After college, McIntyre taught art in Sydney and Canberra high schools before dedicating himself to a full-time artistic career.
• Mediums & Themes: He primarily worked with collage, drawing, and painting. His work often explored controversial themes of sexuality, utilizing collage elements sourced from pornographic magazines.
• Influences: McIntyre’s style was significantly influenced by modernist art movements such as Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art.
• Notable Works: Key pieces include “Life drawing II,” showcasing his unique artistic vision, and “Flesh and Blood,” a painting/collage that won the Gold Coast City Art Gallery Prize in 1987.

Critical Writing and Publications

• Art Critic: From 1977 to 1978, McIntyre served as an art critic for *The Australian* newspaper.
• Journalism & Contributions: He was a regular contributor to the journal *Art & Australia* from 1975 to 1990.
• Published Books: McIntyre authored two significant books: “Resurgence and Redefinition: Australian Contemporary Drawing” (1988) and “Contemporary Australian Collage and its Origins” (1990). These publications established him as a leading voice in Australian art criticism.

Legacy and Public Collections

• Public Recognition: Arthur McIntyre’s work is held in numerous prominent public collections across Australia, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of Western Australia, and National Gallery of Australia.
• Posthumous Appreciation: In 2010, a major publication and two-part exhibition, *Arthur McIntyre: Bad blood 1960–2000*, were held at Hazelhurst and Macquarie University, celebrating his life and work.
• Historical Significance: McIntyre’s contributions to Australian art are still celebrated today. His willingness to tackle controversial subjects and his innovative use of collage have left a lasting impact on the Australian art scene.
• Death: Arthur McIntyre passed away on October 26, 2003, leaving behind a significant body of work that continues to be studied and appreciated.