Transformer Head (1990)



Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 175 x 135
Private collection, Germany

Arkley’s files contain a slide and also a 1991 studio photo (reproduced in Carnival Fig.6.1) showing the artist posing with this work. Not seen publicly since it was shown in the 1990 ‘Head Show’, the painting was identified recently as in a private collection in Europe.

A working drawing referencing the well-known robot-toy/comic-book franchise, is preserved in the Howard Arkley Archive (State Library Victoria, MS 14217/1/1761, and reproduced in Fitzpatrick & Lynn (2015), p.103. Arkley’s library contained several ‘Transformers’ sticker and colouring books.

Head Transformer (1992) is a related variant, based on a somewhat different sketch.

Provenance

  • Acquired by present owner via Tolarno, c.1990 (correspondence with owner 2007)

Exhibited

  • HA Tolarno 10/90 (‘The Head Show’), cat.9