In June 1999, Australian artist Howard Arkley travelled to London following the opening of his exhibition at the Australian Pavilion of the 48th Venice Biennale. On his way to Los Angeles, where an exhibition of his paintings awaited him, Arkley spent a short time in London, where he was photographed by Robert Whitaker.
The resulting portraits became part of Robert’s distinctive photographic series known as the Whitographs.
Howard Arkley (1951–1999) was one of Australia’s most recognisable contemporary artists. Best known for his brilliantly coloured, meticulously airbrushed paintings of suburban houses and domestic interiors, he developed a highly individual visual language that transformed ordinary Australian suburbia into something extraordinary.
His work combined influences from Pop Art, popular culture, advertising, architecture and everyday domestic design. Although his suburban paintings became his signature, Arkley was also fascinated by the human figure, fashion, identity and the possibilities of portraiture.
His appearance at the Venice Biennale in June 1999 marked a major milestone in his career. Representing Australia on the international stage, he received considerable attention for his work and travelled onwards to London and Los Angeles.
It was during this brief London visit that Robert Whitaker photographed him.
The photographs are particularly revealing. Rather than presenting the confident, flamboyant personality often associated with Arkley, Robert captured him in a more thoughtful and introspective mood.
Art historian John Gregory, writing in his academic paper Fashioning Howard Arkley, published in 2008, specifically identified Robert’s photographs as an evocative series, noting the unusually pensive expression of the artist.
Arkley died in Melbourne on 22 July 1999, just weeks after the London photographic session, aged 48.
Consequently, Robert’s portraits are among the last photographic records of the artist. They capture a remarkable Australian creative talent at a moment of international recognition, shortly before his untimely death.
