Who is Craig Ruddy Death: Australian modern artist dies, age, bio, wiki, cause of death

Craig Ruddy:

Craig Ruddy, an award-winning Australian modern artist, has died of Covid-19 at the age of 53.

The news of his death was conveyed on Facebook by Javier Encalada Querat in an official post.

What Killed Craig Ruddy:

On Tuesday evening, Javier announced the news, saying:

“Shocking News – Craig Ruddy, a talented artist and a finer human being, has passed away”

Sources close to the family said he died from the Covid-19 complication.

“20 y.o. dtr had it, fever nasal congestion, recovered. x2 friends have it: general malaise, diarrhoea, feel “terrible”, female has odd gynae symptom ?related/unrelated. I hear Craig Ruddy (?Archibald artist) who looks to be 40-50’s has died from COVID.”

Craig Ruddy was a multi-award-winning modern artist who lived and worked in The Pocket, a small town in northern New South Wales, Australia.

Craig Ruddy was born in Forestville, Sydney, on August 8, 1968.

Ruddy received the Archibald Prize in 2004 with his charcoal work Two Worlds of David Gulpilil.

In both Sydney and Melbourne, the portrait of the Aboriginal actor received the $35,000 Archibald portrait award as well as the People’s Choice Award.

Tony Johansen, another artist, filed a lawsuit against the Art Gallery of NSW Trust over the image.

Because Ruddy mostly used charcoal in his work, Johansen maintained that it was a drawing, not a painting, and so ineligible for the award.

The NSW Supreme Court rejected Johansen’s suit in June 2006.

Poppy Seeds, a series of portraits, nudes, and self-studies, was displayed in November 2004 after he won the Archibald Prize. The series focused on the tall poppy phenomenon, which is common in Australia.

Craig was known for his evocative figurative portraits that were frequently intertwined with highly textured abstract landscapes.

Ruddy’s work examines the gap between our actual and mythological ties to the land and environment.

His work represents a highly personal, continuing spiritual journey in which he examines themes of social conscience as well as current environmental concerns.

Recognition of Australian Indigenous People and Culture has also been a recurring topic in his previous work and shows.

Craig Awards & Art Works

Ruddy’s Two Worlds sold for $312,000 to a private collector at a Sotheby’s auction in Sydney in August 2006. It was estimated to be worth between $150,000 and $180,000.

Ruddy received the Archibald People’s Choice Prize in 2010 with his painting The Prince of Darkness, a portrait of Warwick Thornton.

In 2011 and 2020, he was a finalist for the Archibald Prize.

Craig Ruddy’s unmistakable painting style defies the conventions of this time-honoured medium.

Paint, charcoal, pencil drawing, varnish, and even glass are all used in his artistic method, which entails a complicated layering of mixed media. Ruddy’s figures become inextricably linked to the environments in which they exist.

His unique layering technique gives the appearance of transparency, in which the foreground and backdrop appear to co-exist and then vanish, merging into one.

The illusory approach reflects a larger spiritual metaphor: all things are interrelated.

The artist’s work serves as a constant tribute to his surroundings, nation, and people that live there.

Ruddy’s approach is obvious and natural.

His use of free-flowing delicate lines paired with a brilliant, dynamic color palette results in strong paintings that are both sensuous and forceful, evoking Australian nature.

‘Bruce Pascoe- Dark Emu,’ Craig Ruddy’s sixth Archibald submission, was inspired by the instructive but divisive book ‘Dark Emu: Black Seeds: Agriculture or Accident.’

The picture touches on some of our time’s most important problems, such as personal and national identity, Indigenous sovereignty, and the present environmental disaster.

Pascoe’s best-seller refutes the widely held belief that Aboriginal people were only hunters and gatherers by re-examining academically accepted settler records, which reveal the presence of Aboriginal agricultural and aquacultural activities.

David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu’s Tribute

David’s presence in the iconic film WALKABOUT captivated Craig’s imagination and bridged my connection to our First Nations People, as it did for many of us.

“His tremendous presence has been firmly enmeshed in my awareness since that time. David became a meaningful figure for me through Walkabout and Storm Boy, and I respected him for his charm, bravery, and cinematic attraction.” Craig said

“When I got to meet him in person to celebrate his existence, I felt honoured and thankful, and each subsequent meeting cemented my appreciation, respect, and admiration for him”.

David was a phenomenal artist in every sense of the word, and his legacy will live on.