Irwin Lewis
Irwin Lewis | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 28 January 2020 | (aged 80)
Nationality | Australian |
Known for | Painting, Ceramics |
Movement | Indigenous Australian art |
Irwin Lewis (21 April 1939 – 28 January 2020
Early life
Lewis was born on 21 April 1939 in
In 1953, the Anglican Schools Board awarded Lewis a scholarship, to attend Christ Church Grammar School in Perth as a boarder, commencing in the second year of secondary school. His move to Perth was also supported financially by his parents, the Morawa branch of the Country Women's Association and the Department of Native Welfare.[4]
Lewis was dux of the Junior School,
In March 1957, with the assistance of a Commonwealth Scholarship, and another scholarship from the National Union of Australian University Students, Lewis became the first Aboriginal student to attend the University of Western Australia (UWA)[3][4] and lived at St George's College, Perth.
At UWA, Lewis enrolled in the Faculty of Arts,[4] and was a prominent cricketer and footballer.[6] However, he left UWA in 1958 to take up a position in the public service.[6]
Adult life
In the early 1960s, Lewis played in the West Australian Football League, for the Claremont Football Club.[7] He was a member of Claremont's premiership-winning team in 1964.[6][7] His teammates in that team included Ian Brayshaw (father of James Brayshaw) and John McIntosh (father of Ashley McIntosh).
Between the late 1950s and late 1980s, Lewis became one of Australia's leading indigenous public servants. Meanwhile, his three sons, Clayton, Cameron and
After working in a variety of areas in Indigenous welfare and development, Lewis retired from the public service in 1989.[6]
Artist career and death
At about the time of his retirement, Lewis commenced a new career as an artist, working as a painter and with ceramics. He was a multiple finalist in the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, and a finalist in numerous other contemporary art awards.[6] In January 2020, the Claremont Football Club announced that he had died at the age of 80.[9]
Collections
Lewis's work is included in the following collections:[5]
- Aboriginal Affairs Department Collection
- Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Canberra
- Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney
- Berndt Museum of Anthropology, University of Western Australia, Crawley
- City of Stirling Collection, Stirling, Western Australia
- City of Wanneroo Collection, Wanneroo, Western Australia
- King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women Collection, Subiaco, Western Australia
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
- Royal Perth Hospital Collection, Perth
- Town of Victoria Park Collection, Victoria Park, Western Australia
References
- ^ "In memory of Aboriginal trailblazer Irwin Lewis". The University Of Western Australia. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Irwin Lewis, Aboriginal Art Directory
- ^ a b Jorgensen, Darren (28–29 April 2012). "Visual Arts: Cause and Effect – Indigenart – Review". The Weekend West. p. 71.
- ^ ISSN 0416-8003. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ a b c "Artist details: Irwin Lewis". Indigenart. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Exhibition details: Faces and Places – Irwin Lewis". Indigenart. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ a b c "Aboriginal Football : The Indigenous Game – West Australian Football League". SportingPulse. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Aboriginal Football : The Indigenous Game – Victorian / Australian Football League". SportingPulse. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ "Vale Irwin Lewis". Claremont Football Club. 29 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.