Adam Cullen
Encyclopedia
Adam Cullen Australian artist, most known for winning the Archibald Prize
in 2000 with a portrait of actor David Wenham
. He is also known for his controversial subjects or work. His style has at times been called simplistic, crude, adolescent or puerile, though he has been voted one of Australia's most collectible contemporary artists.
His studio is in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales
. He says that he paints to the music of punk bands The Meat Puppets
, Black Flag
and the Butthole Surfers
. He has painted such things as dead cats, 'bloodied' kangaroos, headless women and punk men, many of which represent what he calls 'Loserville'.
The artist uses a highly personal visual language to address a broad range of topics including crime, masculinity and cowboy culture. He merges high and low cultural influences in works which are defined by their iridescent colours and bold gestural marks. His works skilfully combine irreverent humour with an astute sensitivity to society.
In November 2009, The Cullen Hotel opened to much acclaim in Melbourne, Australia.
He gained early fame at art school by dragging around a rotting pig’s head chained to his ankle. He raised eyebrows by collaborating with the infamous Mark ‘Chopper’ Read for their children’s book, Hooky the Cripple. Cullen was well established as a Sydney ‘grunge’ artist when he won the prestigious Archibald Prize for his portrait of actor David Wenham in 2000.
in his artwork. He has portrayed the killers of 1986 murder victim Anita Cobby
, and also illustrated the underworld figure and convicted criminal Mark 'Chopper' Read's
fairy tale book called Hooky the Cripple
.
who had used his painting, Portrait of David Wenham, in a television commercial. Cullen argued that artists have the right to control how their images are used and asked that a fee of $67,500 be paid to him for them using it in this way, though it was negotiated that he would be paid $80 for it instead.
He was a finalist in the Archibald Prize again between 2001 and 2004, having also been in 1997 and 1999. In total he has entered the prize at least 9 times and been hung at least 8 times. He was interviewed in the 2005 Peter Berner
documentary about the Archibald Prize called Loaded Brush.
His painting Edmund was in the 2006 Archibald Prize finalists
. He was a finalist
for the 2011 Archibald Prize
.
in 2005, having been a finalist in 2000. He represented Australia in the 25th São Paulo International Biennale in Brazil in 2002.
Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in Australia. It was first awarded in 1921 after a bequest from J. F. Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin who died in 1919...
in 2000 with a portrait of actor David Wenham
David Wenham
David Wenham is an Australian actor who has appeared in movies, television series and theatre productions. He is known in Hollywood for his roles as Faramir in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Carl in Van Helsing and Dilios in 300 and Neil Fletcher in Australia...
. He is also known for his controversial subjects or work. His style has at times been called simplistic, crude, adolescent or puerile, though he has been voted one of Australia's most collectible contemporary artists.
His studio is in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. He says that he paints to the music of punk bands The Meat Puppets
Meat Puppets
The Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in Phoenix, Arizona. The group's original lineup was Curt Kirkwood , his brother Cris Kirkwood , and Derrick Bostrom . The Kirkwood brothers met Bostrom while attending Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix...
, Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
and the Butthole Surfers
Butthole Surfers
Butthole Surfers is an American alternative rock band formed by Gibby Haynes and Paul Leary in San Antonio, Texas in 1981. The band has had numerous personnel changes, but its core lineup of Haynes, Leary, and drummer King Coffey has been consistent since 1983. Teresa Nervosa served as second...
. He has painted such things as dead cats, 'bloodied' kangaroos, headless women and punk men, many of which represent what he calls 'Loserville'.
The artist uses a highly personal visual language to address a broad range of topics including crime, masculinity and cowboy culture. He merges high and low cultural influences in works which are defined by their iridescent colours and bold gestural marks. His works skilfully combine irreverent humour with an astute sensitivity to society.
In November 2009, The Cullen Hotel opened to much acclaim in Melbourne, Australia.
Early life
Adam Cullen was born in Sydney in 1965. He graduated from the City Art Institute with a Diploma of Professional Art in 1987 and received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of New South Wales in 1999. He has exhibited broadly in individual and group exhibitions both in Australia and overseas. In 2002 he represented Australia at the 25th Biennale de São Paulo.He gained early fame at art school by dragging around a rotting pig’s head chained to his ankle. He raised eyebrows by collaborating with the infamous Mark ‘Chopper’ Read for their children’s book, Hooky the Cripple. Cullen was well established as a Sydney ‘grunge’ artist when he won the prestigious Archibald Prize for his portrait of actor David Wenham in 2000.
Association with criminal figures
Many times has Adam Cullen used the image of infamous and iconic Australian bushranger Ned KellyNed Kelly
Edward "Ned" Kelly was an Irish Australian bushranger. He is considered by some to be merely a cold-blooded cop killer — others, however, consider him to be a folk hero and symbol of Irish Australian resistance against the Anglo-Australian ruling class.Kelly was born in Victoria to an Irish...
in his artwork. He has portrayed the killers of 1986 murder victim Anita Cobby
Anita Cobby murder
Anita Lorraine Cobby was an Australian registered nurse and beauty pageant winner. At 26 years old, she was abducted from Blacktown, and raped and murdered at nearby Prospect, on the evening of 2 February 1986...
, and also illustrated the underworld figure and convicted criminal Mark 'Chopper' Read's
Chopper Read
Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read is an Australian ex-criminal, who wrote a series of semi-autobiographical and fictional crime novels. The 2000 film Chopper was based on his life.-Early life:...
fairy tale book called Hooky the Cripple
Hooky the Cripple
Hooky the Cripple is a 2002 novel written by Mark Brandon 'Chopper' Read, illustrated by Adam Cullen published by Pluto Press.- External links :*Sunday Sunrise transcript, interview with Read and Cullen....
.
Archibald Prize
After winning the Archibald Prize, he lodged a complaint with the ABCAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
who had used his painting, Portrait of David Wenham, in a television commercial. Cullen argued that artists have the right to control how their images are used and asked that a fee of $67,500 be paid to him for them using it in this way, though it was negotiated that he would be paid $80 for it instead.
He was a finalist in the Archibald Prize again between 2001 and 2004, having also been in 1997 and 1999. In total he has entered the prize at least 9 times and been hung at least 8 times. He was interviewed in the 2005 Peter Berner
Peter Berner
Peter Berner is an Australian comedian, radio and television presenter, probably best known as host of television's The Einstein Factor.-Comedy:He has been involved in the Australian comedy scene since the 1990s...
documentary about the Archibald Prize called Loaded Brush.
His painting Edmund was in the 2006 Archibald Prize finalists
Archibald Prize 2006 finalists
Below is a list of finalists for the 2006 Archibald Prize . Note that unlike in the previous year, the winner of the packing room prize for 2006 is not part of the finalists...
. He was a finalist
Archibald Prize 2011 finalists
Below is a list of finalists for the 2011 Archibald Prize ;* Abdul Abdullah - Waleed Aly* Giles Alexander - Space or bust * Del Kathryn Barton - Mother ...
for the 2011 Archibald Prize
Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in Australia. It was first awarded in 1921 after a bequest from J. F. Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin who died in 1919...
.
Other prizes
He was exhibited in the Doug Moran National Portrait prize in 2000/2001 with a portrait of comedian Mikey Robbins. He was the winner of the Mosman Art PrizeMosman art prize
Mosman art prize is an art award in Australia held in Mosman, a suburb of Sydney. It has been running since 1947.- List of winners :*Margaret Olley won the inaugural Mosman art prize in 1947*Tom Gleghorn 1958*Henry Salkauskas 1963, 1964, 1965...
in 2005, having been a finalist in 2000. He represented Australia in the 25th São Paulo International Biennale in Brazil in 2002.