Fiona Morgan, portrait of the artist's wife in the gallery (Two Flappers)
Guy Morgan
Fiona Morgan, portrait of the artist's wife in the gallery (Two Flappers) [detail] 2024
Portrait of Fiona Morgan
Oil and acrylic on canvas
81 x 40.5 cm
About the Artwork
Over the years, Fiona and I have attended many memorable exhibitions, and on occasion have had the pleasure of seeing Margaret Preston’s Flapper (1925). Once was at the National Gallery of Australia in Know My Name, an exhibition celebrating the work of women artists and seeking to deepen understanding of their contribution to Australia’s cultural life. I have always felt a strong synergy with Preston’s approach: reflecting the spirit of her time, she used the painting’s title to describe her sitter in a manner that was both complementary and descriptive. I like to think that this painting—my tribute to Fiona—is framed in a similar way.
About the Artist
Kiama-based artist Guy Morgan has an eclectic art practice, but is best known for his work in portraiture. He appeared in the Archibald Prize (2013, 2015) and the Salon des Refusés (2017). Longlisted by the National Portrait Gallery in London for his entry in the 2025 Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award, his work has appeared in most of the major painting competitions in Australia, including the Percival Portrait Painting Prize. He has exhibited widely across Australia, and his work is held in private collections in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Europe. Guy holds a Master of Studio Arts (Painting) from Sydney College of the Arts and served on its Academic Board. Between 2017 and 2020, he was a Board Member of Arts Access Australia, the peak body for arts and disability in Australia. Guy currently teaches painting as part of the Pine Street Creative Tutor Panel for City of Sydney.