The Art Gallery of Western Australia’s touring exhibition, Howard Taylor: Material Practice invites regional audiences to witness firsthand the evolution of one of Western Australia’s most significant artists, seen through selected works in the State Art Collection.
Howard Taylor: Material Practice
From Saturday 5 December 2026 -
Sunday 28 February 2027
Howard Taylor is renowned for his captivating landscape paintings and sculptures. His innovative use of materials and techniques led to widespread acclaim, including recognition by the WA State Government, which named him a State Living Treasure in 1998 and Citizen of the Year in 2000.
After serving as a pilot in Britain in World War II, Taylor studied at the Birmingham School of Art, where European painters inspired his practice and had a lasting impact on his use of materials. His return to Western Australia, living first in the Perth hills before settling in Northcliffe, a small town in the southwest, marked a significant shift in his artistic journey. The dense forests and natural beauty of this region profoundly influenced his work, creating a deep connection between his art and the environment. Taylor’s art, often exploring the interplay of light and form, reveals this relationship.
Central to Taylor’s artistic vision was his engagement with materials. From traditional media like oil to less conventional techniques such as egg tempera, Taylor dedicatedly refined the endless potential of each material at his disposal. His journal was his companion on this journey, capturing the challenges and resolutions of his artistic experimentation.
We invite you to slow-look and witness firsthand the evolution of Howard Taylor’s material practice through artworks from the State Art Collection and selected pages from his journal. From his early experiments with tempera and form to his later innovations in manipulating light and space, each work of art is a window into the development of Taylor’s creative process, enriched by the insight gleaned from his journal.
About Howard Taylor
(1918-2001)
Howard Taylor, an influential Australian artist renowned for his captivating landscape paintings and sculptures, was deeply influenced by the natural beauty of Western Australia. Born in Hamilton, Victoria, he served as a pilot during World War II. After his service in the war, Taylor received the opportunity to study at the Birmingham School of Art, where European painters inspired his practice and had a lasting impression on his use of materials. His move to Western Australia, living in the Perth hills in Bickley before settling in Northcliffe, a small town in the southwest, marked a significant shift in his artistic journey. The dense forests and natural beauty of this region profoundly influenced his work, creating a deep connection between his art and the environment. Taylor’s art, often exploring the interplay of light and form, reflects this connection. His innovative use of materials and techniques led to widespread acclaim, including recognition by the WA State Government, naming him a living treasure and citizen of the year.
This exhibition is presented by the Art Gallery of Western Australia, supported by the Government of Western Australia through the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost.
Image: Howard Taylor, Two eras, 1985, oil on paper on plywood, 22.2 x 21.1 cm, 53.3 x 48.8 x 4.2cm (support). The State Art Collection, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, Purchased 1988.