Douglas Dundas, Rayner Hoff and Arthur Murch

Douglas Dundas, Rayner Hoff and Arthur Murch

There is a story of interconnectedness that resonates amongst the three portraits and the artists selected here from the NAS Collection that goes beyond the intimate moment when eyes are locked, and human expression is stilled.

Douglas Dundas (1900-81) taught at the East Sydney Technical College (later called the National Art School) from 1930-65. His modernist style was instrumental in the early days of painting instruction at NAS and through his establishment of a policy of collecting work by students and teachers, the NAS Collection was formed.

Dundas taught alongside Rayner Hoff from 1930-37. Hoff (1894-1937) had arrived from the Isle of Man in 1923 to become a teacher of drawing and sculpture. He created a highly dynamic school of sculpture working with countless students over a 14-year period before his premature death in 1937. One of Hoff’s students was Arthur Murch (1902-89) who attended ESTC under Hoff for one day a week in 1923 whilst working as an engineer.  Murch returned to teach modelling and sculpture at NAS in 1932 and then again in the 40s and 50s. Murch is said to have considered himself more of a sculptor than a painter – the influence of Renaissance masters and Classicism can be seen in his drawing of his former 1930s student John Santry, who came back to teach at NAS from 1959 onwards.

There are many examples of artworks in the NAS Collection and Archive that have stories connecting our people and history. This is one of the characteristics of the Collection that makes it unique.

Images: Douglas Dundas, Self Portrait, c.1925, oil on canvas, 43.2 x 35.5 cm, National Art School Collection, gift of Matilda Quera, 2012; Rayner Hoff, Portrait of Mary Turner, 1926, plaster with applied brown patina, 23 x 16 x 17 cm, National Art School Collection, gift of Stephen Henstock, 2019; Arthur Murch, Portrait of John Santry, c.1940, red conte on paper, 36 x 29 cm, National Art School Collection, gift of John and Michelle Murch, 2015

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We're excited to share that NAS Photomedia sessional Dr Jack Ball (@jack__ball_) is the winner of the $100,000 Ramsay Art Prize 2025, the nation’s most generous prize for Australian artists under forty.

Jack's award winning work 'Heavy Grit' is on display in the Ramsay Art Prize 2025 exhibition which opens tomorrow, Saturday 31 May

Jack Ball with 'Heavy Grit' in Ramsay Art Prize 2025, Art Gallery of South Australia, (@agsa.adelaide) Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed
Thank you to outgoing Chair Susan Rothwell AM & welcome to incoming Chair Jeff Weeden. The National Art School would like to express its deepest gratitude to Susan Rothwell AM, whose term as Chair of the NAS Board concludes on 31 May 2025. 

At the same time, we are pleased to announce and warmly welcome Jeff Weeden as the incoming Chair of the NAS Board, effective 1 June 2025.

Jeff has served as a Director on the NAS Board since 2019 and currently chairs the Finance and Audit Committee, a position he has held since 2023.  For the full announcement, click the link in the bio.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) starts today! As part of our NAS NRW program, we invite you to a special screening of the documentary 'Kindred' (2023) in our Cell Block Theatre. The directors Gillian Moody and Adrian Russell Wills will be joining us for the screening.

'There's the black world, and then there's the white world. I felt walking in each of them was complicated enough. To bring those together would just make it even harder.' (Kindred: Trailer)

'Kindred' is a deeply personal feature-length documentary that delves into the emotional landscape of family, love, and loss through the eyes of two close friends.'

Limited capacity - click the link in bio to reserve your seats.
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