This catalogue accompanies the exhibition at Ikon Gallery of work by Australian artist Sidney Nolan (Ikon Gallery, 10 June – 3 September 2017).

Born in Australia, Nolan (1917 – 1992) is one of the most important artists of the 20th century.

The exhibition, part of a nationwide programme presented by the Sidney Nolan Trust to celebrate the centenary of Nolan’s birth, brings to light a selection of extraordinary spray painted portraits dating from the 1980s.

It includes a series made in 1982  for an exhibition at the Nolan Gallery at Lanyon, near Canberra, depicting individuals that had strong personal significance for the artist, including his brother (who was tragically killed in WW2), close friend Benjamin Britten, Francis Bacon and fellow Australian artist Brett Whiteley.

This catalogue includes texts by Jane Clark and Ian Henderson.