Drawings, cartoons, collages, posters and prints, ca. 1962-1995 / by Martin Sharp

fonds

ca. 1962-1995

Graphic Materials, Posters, Prints, Drawings

900916

46 posters
2 posters (framed)
31 prints
6 drawings
3 collages
3 items of textual material

Martin Sharp, an artist, cartoonist, writer, graphic artist, songwriter and filmmaker, was born in Sydney in 1942. From 1960 he attended the National Art School (NAS) at the East Sydney Technical College in Darlinghurst. After a year he enrolled at the University of Sydney to study architecture and during this period he began to draw satirical cartoons for student publications. He returned to the NAS after two terms at university, leaving the college in 1963. While at art college Sharp and fellow student Garry Shead started the ‘Arty Wild Oat’, a short-lived student newspaper.

Along with Richard Walsh and Richard Neville, Sharp launched the satirical Sydney magazine ‘Oz’ in April 1963. Sharp not only illustrated articles and stories but designed many of the advertisements for the magazine. His focus and use of collage was the ideal medium given publication deadlines. From August 1964 Oz began to use off-set lithography which relied on photography to reproduce the pages. The magazine ceased publication in 1964 because of obscenity charges.

The Clune Gallery in Potts Point offered Sharp an exhibition in 1965. He exhibited collages, cartoons, assemblage sculptures and paintings. The show ‘Art for Mart’s Sake’ was sold out by the opening.

In 1966 Sharp and Richard Neville left Sydney to travel to England. In London Sharp created a number of popular and successful posters including ‘Mister Tambourine Man’ and his poster of Hendrix. Unlike other poster artists of the time Sharp’s posters were primarily for sale through shops or mail order rather than commissioned as advertising for public spaces. The posters were produced and sold by Big O Posters as cheap and accessible art objects. Sharp also designed a number of album covers for the band Cream. Eric Clapton, the guitarist for Cream, introduced Sharp to the music of Tiny Tim, who became an important influence and source of inspiration.

Sharp and Neville also published a new version of ‘Oz’ in London between 1966 and 1973, with Sharp as art director. The magazine soon gained the notoriety of the Sydney years.

Sharp returned to Sydney setting up The Yellow House in Potts Point in 1971. The project drew motivation from Van Gogh’s vision of a community of artists living and working at his studio in Arles. In the mid-1970s Sharp was one of three artists commissioned to redecorate the entrance towers and smiling face of Luna Park in Sydney. During this period Sharp also worked with the Nimrod Theatre producing a series of posters promoting their shows.

References:
Gunn, A., “A-changin’ times: the art of Martin Sharp in the 1960s”, Journal of Australian Studies, vol. 34 (2), June 2010, pp. 179-193.
Warnes, Diana, “Oz and beyond”, Portrait 23, Autumn 2007, pp. 12-15. National Portrait Gallery, http://www.portrait.gov.au/ (accessed 20 October 2010)

Collection includes 88 drawings, collages, cartoons, posters and prints, ca. 1962-1995:

SERIES 01:
Original drawings, cartoons, and collages, ca. 1962-1993 / by Martin Sharp

SERIES 02:
Posters and prints, ca. 1967-1995 / by Martin Sharp

SERIES 03:
Framed posters, 1969 and 1970 / by Martin Sharp

Research & study copies allowed: Including publication for educational and not - for - profit use, and any use by the Library.
Copyright status:: In copyright - Life of creator plus 70 years
Copyright holder:: Martin Sharp
Rights and Restrictions Information:: All commercial use of works by Martin Sharp should be referred to his nominated copyright collecting agency - VISCOPY.
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy Martin Sharp

Collection compiled by Josef Lebovic