Guy Grey-Smith (1916-1981) stands as one of Australia's most significant 20th century modernist artists, whose powerful interpretations of the Western Australian landscape helped establish him as an artist of national importance during the 1960s and 1970s. Born in Wagin, Western Australia, his artistic journey began unexpectedly during World War II while a POW, after his RAF bomber was shot down over enemy territory. During his internment, he began sketching with materials sent by his wife Helen, marking the beginning of his artistic career.

After the war, Grey-Smith studied at the Chelsea School of Art under influential artists including Henry Moore and Ceri Richards, before returning to Western Australia in 1948. His artistic vision, deeply influenced by Paul Cézanne and later Nicolas de Staël, evolved into a distinctive style characterized by strong, demanding color and powerful structural compositions. He developed innovative techniques, including the use of trowels and wax medium to create richly textured surfaces that captured the essence of the Australian landscape.

Throughout his career, Grey-Smith traveled extensively across Western Australia, from the Kimberley and Pilbara to the Goldfields and South West, creating works that brought the natural wonders of Western Australia to national attention. His paintings, particularly from the 1960s onwards, demonstrate an increasingly confident approach to abstraction while maintaining a deep connection to specific locations and landscapes. As both painter and ceramicist, he developed a sophisticated understanding of color and form that influenced multiple generations of Western Australian artists.

Grey-Smith played a crucial role in promoting modernism in Western Australia, serving as the inaugural president of the Contemporary Art Society's Western Australian branch and forming the Perth Group with fellow artists to champion European modernist approaches. His work garnered numerous accolades, including eleven major Australian art prizes between 1955 and 1978, and he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1981 for his services to art.

The final seven years of Grey-Smith's life were spent in Pemberton, surrounded by the majestic karri forests that inspired some of his most powerful late works. During this period, he would fly his small Cessna aircraft between Pemberton and Perth, often landing in paddocks to share tea with local farmers - a characteristic gesture that reflected his deep connection to the Western Australian landscape and its people. His legacy lives on through his works, which are held in all major Australian state galleries, the National Gallery of Australia, and numerous public and private collections internationally.

Lot 2 Artspace is privileged to offer a selection of Guy Grey-Smith's works, including rare pieces from his estate. Each work represents a vital piece of Western Australian modernist history and demonstrates Grey-Smith's enduring influence on Australian art. Please enquire about available works and current prices.