Ben Quilty: After Afghanistan

Overview

Ben Quilty has had a pretty colourful life. He grew up in Sydney's north-west, graduated from the Sydney College of the Arts at the University of Sydney and from the University of Western Sydney with a Bachelor's degree in Visual Communication. In 2011, the artist was deployed to Afghanistan as an official war artist. In this role, it was his responsibility to listen to the stories of the Australian soldiers and express them through art giving the public a direct insight into the realities of war.

After returning home he spent six months creating his collection. His stunning pieces capture the internal battles these men and women have experienced and his art portrays the holistic toll that war has on a person. The Archibald Prize winner's (2011) work will be showcased at Griffith University Art Gallery in South Bank as part of the Australian War Memorial’s travelling exhibition.

Quilty's story was investigated by Australian Story in 2012. For a more detailed view of his interesting life, have a read of the transcript.