Jon Molvig : Maverick

Brisbane : Thames & Hudson, 2019. Quarto, laminated illustrated boards, pp. 192, illustrated. New copy.

Jon Molvig (1923–70) settled in his adopted Brisbane in 1955 and dominated the city’s art scene into the late 1960s. A volatile and rebellious character, Molvig was also a charismatic teacher whose uncompromising commitment to painting inspired a group of young artists. Though short, Molvig’s career was influential, and he was always highly regarded by his peers, as well as by critics. Jon Molvig: Maverick acknowledges Molvig’s contribution to the Brisbane art community, highlights his stylistic eclecticism, and revalues his unique contribution to Australian and Queensland art history on the eve of the 50th anniversary of his death. This richly illustrated, hardcover publication features essays by Michael Hawker (exhibition curator), Samantha Littley, Michele Helmrich and Glenn R Cooke, as well as an interview by Bruce Heiser with Cornelia Bartzis about her late husband’s work and their life together. A selected bibliography and exhibition history are also included.