Nolan, Sidney (1917–1992) By Philp, Angela
Sidney Nolan is a renowned Australian artist, especially for his iconic rendering of the bushranger and anti-hero Ned Kelly. Primarily known as a painter, he worked prolifically across a wide range of media, from drawing and printmaking to murals, stage design, and collage, completing thousands of works. Born in Melbourne, Nolan studied at the National Gallery School from 1934 to 1936, though he was more interested in connecting with other artists than the conservative teaching, and preferred reading in the library to sitting in class. Interested in abstraction and modern art, he sought to challenge the vision of Australia’s popular Heidelberg School of painting.