Trevor Nickolls facts for kids

Trevor Nickolls (born June 8, 1949 – died September 29, 2012) was an important Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Australian artist. He was famous for his bright acrylic paintings. His art often mixed traditional Aboriginal styles, like 'dot-painting' and 'cross-hatching', with Western symbols. He explored big ideas in his art, like the difference between modern industrial life and ancient spiritual beliefs. He called these ideas "Machinetime and Dreamtime".

Trevor Nickolls' Early Life and Learning

Trevor Nickolls was born in 1949 in Port Adelaide, a city in South Australia. He first studied Western art. He didn't truly discover traditional Aboriginal art until the late 1970s. This was during his advanced studies at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Discovering Traditional Art

While at college, he met Warlpiri artist Dinny Nolan Tjampitjinpa. Dinny was part of the famous Papunya art movement. Trevor then traveled through Arnhem Land, a region in northern Australia. This trip helped him understand the deep connections between life, culture, and the land. He said the experience felt like it "wraps itself around you, full of spirit."

Becoming a Famous Artist

Trevor Nickolls made history with his art.

Exhibitions and Awards

In 1990, he became the first Aboriginal Australian artist to have his work shown at the Venice Biennale. This is a very important international art exhibition. He exhibited there alongside another artist named Rover Thomas.

After he passed away, in 2013, he won the Blake Prize. This award is for art that explores religious or spiritual themes. He won it for his artwork called Metamorphosis.