Description

Extended Data

DAAO URL

https://www.daao.org.au/bio/michael-fitzjames

Birth Place

Melbourne, Vic., Australia

Biography

painter and illustrator, was born in Melbourne. His first exhibition of his drawings was at Sweeney Reed’s Strines Gallery, Melbourne, in the late 1960s (acc. SMH 16 March 2002, p.29: article on Sweeney Reed by Susan Wyndham. Gallery only existed 1965-69 however there is some speculation that the gallery was still open in 1971.) He studied at the Tasmania School of Art, Hobart, in 1974-75 (Dip Fine Arts 1976). He lived in Europe in 1977-80 where he worked as an illustrator on the London Guardian (1978-80). Back in Australia he drew for the National Times (1980-89) and for many other magazines and newspapers, including Nation Review , Living Daylights , Digger , Age Monthly Review , Harper’s Bazaar and MJ Magazine . 'Australia’s magnificent cartoonists’ ( Bulletin 12 November 1985, 99-101) noted: 'M. F. J. of the National Times sent this coy note: “I disappeared pursued by the bailiffs only to reappear in The National Times in 1980”. Was born in Melbourne, is male.’ Since 1990 he has worked as an illustrator in Sydney, predominantly for the Sydney Morning Herald . A member of the Australian Black and White Artists Club, Fitzjames has won several Stanleys (see Lindesay 1994). He had 11 solo exhibitions in 1970-92, mainly at Sydney’s Macquarie Galleries, and was included in the 1987 Lewers Bequest & PRAG exhibition, The Black and White Tradition . An exhibition of his paintings was held at Sydney in March-April 1996. His Sydney dealer, Josef Lebovic, has a collection of original works, including 'Nature Mort’ (nude) 1976, coloured inks. An anthology of Fitzjames’s drawings has also been published. Works include black and whitedrawing of sybaritic Leo Schofield and the Good Food Guide c.1989 (Mitchell Library ABWACC PX D586) reused 'Artists and Cartoonists in Black and White’, S.H. Ervin Gallery 1999; 'Keating and the Deficit Daleks’, published SMH 4 November 1994 (original ML PxD700/71); 'Rougher than usual handling’ (Justice drunk on judge’s lap) used as cover of Justinian 75 (December 1995); 'Here’s Johnny’, published SMH 23 August 1996 and exhibited in Bringing the House Down: 12 Months of Australian Political Humour (Canberra: National Museum of Australia/ Old Parliament House exhibition, 1997), cat.7; and 'On the beach’ and 'Circus clowns’ in Bringing the House Down 2001 (and presumably others in other years: see NMA website). Has a dealer in Melbourne and (since 1997) Josef Lebovic in Sydney. Writers: Kerr, Joan Date written: 1996 Last updated: 2007

Born

b. 1948

Summary

Prolific contemporary Sydney based painter, designer and illustrator. A member of the Australian Black and White Artists Club, Fitzjames has won several Stanleys.

Gender

Male

Died

None listed

Age at death

None listed