Vernon TREWEEKE (b.1939; d.2015)

Vernon Treweeke (1939–2015) was a pioneering Australian artist, widely regarded as the father of psychedelic art in Australia and an influential figure who bridged abstract expressionism and electronic multimedia installation art. His distinctive approach and contributions to Australian contemporary art spanned painting, sculpture, mural work, and experimental sound, often challenging the boundaries between art forms while embracing bold colour, abstraction, and symbolism.

Born near Cronulla beach in Sydney in 1939, Treweeke attended boarding school at Scots School in Bathurst and became close friends with fellow artist Brett Whiteley. He studied at the Australian National Art School from 1957 to 1959 under John Passmore and Lyndon Dadswell, honing his technical skill and artistic vision. In the early 1960s, Treweeke travelled to London via India and France, where he exhibited with Young Commonwealth Artists—a group show that toured Germany, France, and England—and immersed himself in the vibrant international art scene. During this period, he connected with Australian expatriates and British artists, such as David Hockney and Patrick Caulfield, deepening his exposure to modern abstraction and pop cultural stimuli.

Treweeke returned to Sydney in 1966 after formative experiences in New York and San Francisco. He became a central figure at the Central Street Gallery, where his multimedia exhibitions incorporated silkscreen images, modular canvases coated in fluorescent paint, immersive ultraviolet lighting, and experimental soundscapes. Treweeke’s practices prefigured Australian developments in installation and electronic art, with exhibitions that transformed gallery spaces into psychedelic environments.

In the late 1960s, Treweeke was heralded as "Australia's leading practitioner of abstract eroticism". His art became closely associated with avant-garde abstraction, colour field painting, and the psychedelic counterculture movement.

Vernon Treweeke was one of the forty artists selected for the landmark 1968 NGV exhibition "The Field", which inaugurated the National Gallery of Victoria's new premises on St Kilda Road. This exhibition marked a radical shift in the Gallery's approach to contemporary art, spotlighting flat, abstract, geometric and colour field artworks produced by Australia's emerging avant-garde. Treweeke's inclusion in "The Field" positioned him among the leading practitioners of abstraction and psychedelic art, and the acclaimed Ultrascope series represented his embrace of vibrant colour, experimental surfaces, and immersive installation practices. The exhibition catalysed debate and was pivotal in launching a generation of artists, establishing Treweeke's national reputation and lasting influence within Australian art.

By 1970, he staged major exhibitions at prominent galleries before stepping back from high-profile commercial art to focus on alternative lifestyles, spirituality, and collaborative public art. Of particular significance was his role organising the Aquarius Festival in Nimbin (1973), a formative event in Australian counterculture and art.

Between the 1970s and his passing in 2015, Treweeke resided in the Blue Mountains, producing large-scale murals—including public works adorning railway stations—infused with local folklore and psychedelic motifs. In 2003, the Penrith Regional Gallery staged a major retrospective exhibition, marking his first comprehensive solo show in 30 years. In 2010, CarriageWorks in Sydney presented further exhibitions, cementing his legacy as an innovator in Australian art.

ABSTRACT – 1969 (currently in stock at Art Nomad) typifies Treweeke’s transition into a radical new abstraction during the 1960s. Reflecting his fascination with vibrant colour combinations and geometric arrangements, the work likely incorporates modular forms and experimental surfaces illuminated under special lighting—intended to induce altered states of perception and evoke the psychedelic experience. The bold interplay of shapes and hues in this painting connects directly to Treweeke’s broader vision: abstraction as sensory experience and spiritual awakening.

Ultrascope VII (currently in stock at Art Nomad), created with acrylic on board across four panels, is emblematic of Treweeke’s push toward immersive, multi-panel installations. It explores vibrant chromatic structures, pulsating optical effects, and layered compositions that engage the viewer’s spatial awareness. This work belongs to the celebrated "Ultrascope" series, which gained recognition for their kinetic optical illusions and psychedelic resonance. The series’ multi-panel format and strategic use of colour and scale connect deeply with the psychedelic ethos—art as a portal to transcendence and new dimensions of perception.

Both works together showcase Treweeke’s enduring search to break boundaries, immerse audiences, and blend the mystical with the metaphysical within abstraction.

Important Exhibitions:

• Young Commonwealth Artists Exhibition (London, 1962; travelled to Germany and France).

• Regular exhibitions at Central Street Gallery, Sydney (late 1960s).

• Penrith Regional Gallery, solo retrospective (2003).

• CarriageWorks, Sydney, major exhibition (2010).

• Organiser and exhibitor, Aquarius Festival, Nimbin (1973).

• Multiple commercial and survey exhibitions documented in institutional catalogues.

Collections Featuring Vernon Treweeke:

• National Gallery of Australia.

• National Gallery of Victoria (including "Ultrascope 5").

• Reserve Bank of Australia Art Collection.

• Private collections in Australia and internationally.

• Public murals adorning railway stations in the Blue Mountains region of NSW.

Notable:

• Treweeke’s works are found in leading public collections, highlighting his lasting impact on Australian modern art.

• The National Gallery of Victoria owns key pieces, affirming his role in the nation’s cultural legacy.

Significant Collections Holding Vernon Treweeke’s Paintings:

• National Gallery of Australia

• National Gallery of Victoria

• Reserve Bank of Australia, corporate collection]

• Blue Mountains railway mural project (public art)

• Numerous private collections in Australia and internationally

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Vernon TREWEEKE (b.1939; d.2015)