Martin Wilson
Encyclopedia
Martin Wilson is a visual artist, based in Newcastle
, New South Wales
, Australia
. A graduate of the National Art School
in Sydney
in 1994, Martin works primarily in painting and textile media. Among his most prominent works is The Fuzzy Prime Ministers – a series of latch-hook rug portraits of each Prime Minister of Australia
. The series was created to mark Australia’s Centenary of Federation in 2001 and was exhibited at Object Gallery in Sydney
during the Sydney Festival
, the National Portrait Gallery (Australia)
in Canberra
and regional art galleries throughout Australia
. Following his election in November 2007, a portrait of Kevin Rudd
– the 26th in the series – was first shown at the Flinders Street Gallery in Sydney
. Martin’s other major works include Blue Budgie on Pink (2003) and Raw Prawn (2007). In April 2009 at the University of Newcastle
Gallery, Martin presented Post (2009), a series of rug portraits of Australia Post
workers for the Making Our Times exhibition, which he also co-curated with Jason Martin of the Flinders Street Gallery. Martin has exhibited extensively in artist-run space
s in Newcastle, Melbourne
and Brisbane
and was co-founder and co-director of Newcastle artist-run space
Rocketart from 1999 to 2004.
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, 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...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. A graduate of the National Art School
National Art School
The National Art School is an art school in Sydney, Australia. It is a Public Company Limited by Guarantee with a board of directors. It has Institutional Registration and Course Accreditation supported by the DET Higher Education Directorate....
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1994, Martin works primarily in painting and textile media. Among his most prominent works is The Fuzzy Prime Ministers – a series of latch-hook rug portraits of each Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
. The series was created to mark Australia’s Centenary of Federation in 2001 and was exhibited at Object Gallery in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
during the Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival is Australia's largest and most attended annual cultural event running every January since it was first held in 1977. Its program features around 80 events including contemporary and classical music, dance, circus, drama, visual arts and artist talks...
, the National Portrait Gallery (Australia)
National Portrait Gallery (Australia)
The National Portrait Gallery of Australia is a collection of portraits of prominent Australians that are important in their field of endeavour or whose life sets them apart as an individual of long-term public interest...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and regional art galleries throughout Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Following his election in November 2007, a portrait of Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
– the 26th in the series – was first shown at the Flinders Street Gallery in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Martin’s other major works include Blue Budgie on Pink (2003) and Raw Prawn (2007). In April 2009 at the University of Newcastle
University of Newcastle, Australia
The University of Newcastle is an Australian public university that was established in 1965. The University's main and largest campus is located in Callaghan, a suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales...
Gallery, Martin presented Post (2009), a series of rug portraits of Australia Post
Australia Post
Australia Post is the trading name of the Australian Government-owned Australian Postal Corporation .-History:...
workers for the Making Our Times exhibition, which he also co-curated with Jason Martin of the Flinders Street Gallery. Martin has exhibited extensively in artist-run space
Artist-run space
An artist-run space is a gallery space run by artists, thus circumventing the structures of public and private galleries.Artist-run spaces have become realised as an important factor in urban regeneration...
s in Newcastle, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and was co-founder and co-director of Newcastle artist-run space
Artist-run space
An artist-run space is a gallery space run by artists, thus circumventing the structures of public and private galleries.Artist-run spaces have become realised as an important factor in urban regeneration...
Rocketart from 1999 to 2004.