Two-time Archibald Prize-winning painter William Robinson has died, aged 89
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Renowned Brisbane painter William Robinson AO has died aged 89.
Robinson was twice awarded the Archibald Prize for portraiture and was highly praised for his paintings of south-east Queensland rainforests and northern New South Wales seascapes.
His work is displayed in major public art galleries across Australia, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum.
He died in a hospital in Brisbane on Tuesday night.
"He had a wonderful life, decades and decades of painting amazing pictures that are so loved by people," he said.
"His work has made people look at the Australian landscape through his eyes.
"The Archibald Prize-winning paintings make people think there's another way to look at portraiture that doesn't have to be dreary old men in grey suits."
When she died in 2022, he commemorated her life with the "Love in Life and Art" exhibition
Robinson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2007 for outstanding achievement and service to the arts.
Two years later, the William Robinson Gallery was established at Old Government House in the Queensland University of Technology's (QUT) Garden Point campus.
After a number of meetings, Mr Robinson formed a friendship with former governor-general Dame Quentin Bryce, and invited her to curate one of his exhibitions in 2015.
He had a lengthy career teaching art at QUT's predecessor institutions before becoming an artist full-time.
In a statement, QUT president Professor Margaret Sheil AO extended her condolences to Robinson's family.
"It has been one of the highlights of my time as QUT Vice-Chancellor to work with Bill, his late wife Shirley and their family in realising the vision of the Gallery, and to see it become a treasured place of reflection and inspiration for so many," she said.
By Emma Johnso
Robinson was twice awarded the Archibald Prize for portraiture and was highly praised for his paintings of south-east Queensland rainforests and northern New South Wales seascapes.
His work is displayed in major public art galleries across Australia, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum.
He died in a hospital in Brisbane on Tuesday night.
William Robinson won the Archibald Prize for portraiture twice. (ABC News: Chris Gillette)
'Another way to look at portraiture'
Long-time friend and colleague Phillip Bacon said Robinson would be remembered as one of Australia's greatest painters."He had a wonderful life, decades and decades of painting amazing pictures that are so loved by people," he said.
"His work has made people look at the Australian landscape through his eyes.
"The Archibald Prize-winning paintings make people think there's another way to look at portraiture that doesn't have to be dreary old men in grey suits."
Deeply felt relationships
Robinson found inspiration in his wife, Shirley, who — despite never sitting as a portrait subject — appeared in his work from time to time.When she died in 2022, he commemorated her life with the "Love in Life and Art" exhibition
Robinson won his first Archibald Prize in 1987 for Equestrian Self-Portrait (ABC News: Matt Eaton)
Robinson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2007 for outstanding achievement and service to the arts.
Two years later, the William Robinson Gallery was established at Old Government House in the Queensland University of Technology's (QUT) Garden Point campus.
After a number of meetings, Mr Robinson formed a friendship with former governor-general Dame Quentin Bryce, and invited her to curate one of his exhibitions in 2015.
In a statement, QUT president Professor Margaret Sheil AO extended her condolences to Robinson's family.
"It has been one of the highlights of my time as QUT Vice-Chancellor to work with Bill, his late wife Shirley and their family in realising the vision of the Gallery, and to see it become a treasured place of reflection and inspiration for so many," she said.
By Emma Johnso
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Condolences to his loved ones 
