Rover (Julama) Thomas Australia (Aboriginal), c1926-98
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About Rover Thomas
Born in 1926 in the Kintore Ranges on the Northern Territory/Western Australian border, Australian Aboriginal artist Rover Thomas moved to Sturt Creek in Western Australia at the age of 10 and trained to be a jackaroo, later becoming a stockman. As with many contemporary Aboriginal artists, Rover Thomas started to paint quite late in his life. He was known for his use of ochres and unique 'colour-field' style. Thomas's work was first exhibited in 1987 and was one of two Aboriginal artist to exhibit in the Venice Biennale in 1990. He was the subject of the important solo exhibition Roads Cross: The Paintings of Rover Thomas at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra in 1994. In 2000, Thomas's work was amongst that of eight individuals and groups of Australian Aboriginal artists shown at the Hermitage Museum in Russia. He is amongst the most successful Australian artists in the international art market.
Rover (Julama) Thomas is one of the most prolific of the artists listed in our database, with the number of works offered for sale by auction since 1993 of 604, of which 403 (67%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $778,750 for All That Big Rain Coming from the Top Side 1991 sold by Sotheby's in July 2001. This year 10 works have been offered for sale. Works by Rover (Julama) Thomas are held by the Art Gallery of Western Australia, National Gallery of Australia and a further four major public national galleries (see list below).
Rover Thomas is listed in the following standard biographical references:
- McCulloch, Alan McCulloch, Susan McCulloch, Emily McCulloch-Childs. The New McCulloch's Encyclopedia of Australian Art. 4th Edition, Aus Art Melbourne & The Miegunyah Press, 2006. Page 152
- Germaine, Max. Artists and Galleries of Australia, Volumes 1 & 2, Third Edition. Craftsman Press, Sydney, 1990. Page 668
- Australian Prints + Printmaking, a database listing printmaking artists from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region based on the print collection of the National Gallery of Australia.
- Rover Thomas is classified as one of the top Australian Indigenous artists by leading Aboriginal fine art gallery, Cooee Gallery, Sydney.
Artists' Resale Royalty
Could the second and subsequent works by this artist sold after June 9, 2010 for over $1,000 be liable for the Artists' Resale Royalty? More info…
Yes, eligible, subject to the artist satisfying the residency test. The artist is alive or has been deceased for less than 70 years. Contact the Copyright Agency for information on the residency test.
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