07 Jan 2009
Biographies - 05.11.2007
Douglas Annand (1903 - 1976) was an Australian artist and designer who made his mark during the mid-20th century. Although he was predominantly known for his graphic art and design skills, Annand also worked prolifically using a broad range of techniques and media, including metal, glass, watercolour, sculpture and textiles.
Annand made a significant contribution to the development of Australian Modernism and is recognised as one of the most important artist-designers working in Australia during this period.
Career Highlights
1932 Joint-winner of a competition to design a commemorative poster for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
1935-39 Annand’s graphic art appeared on the cover and inside Sydney Ure Smith's publications The Home, Art in Australia and the National Journal Australia.
1937 Designed a mural for the ceiling of the Australian Pavilion at the Paris International Exhibition.
1938 Created preliminary designs for new Australian coins.
1938-39 Art director for the Australian Pavilion at the New York World's Fair.
1940 Awarded two medals by the Australian Commercial and Industrial Artists’ Association.
1940 Art director for the New Zealand Centenary International Exhibition.
1941 Awarded the Sir John Sulman award for his mural at the Bathurst Public School.
1941-44 Camouflage artist with the Royal Australian Air Force (based in north Queensland and the Northern Territory).
1944 First solo exhibition of watercolours and drawings held at the David Jones Art Gallery, Sydney.
1945 Works exhibited at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and other state galleries as part of the exhibition Australia at War.
1947 Awarded the Sir John Sulman award for his mural The enjoyment of the sun and the sea in the Jantzen company boardroom.
1950 Created scarf designs for Holeproof including Douglas Annand looks at Sydney.
1951 Awarded the Sir John Sulman award for his mural on the Orient liner, RMS Oransay.
1951 Founding member of the Society of Sculptors.
1953 First prize in the Leroy-Alcorso Textile Design Competition.
1954 Produced award winning poster design for Australian National Travel Association.
1956 Member of Australia’s first Cultural Delegation to China.
1950s-60s Completed numerous painted, metal and glass sculptures, screens and murals for buildings in Australia.
1963 Advised on the design process for the new Australian decimal currency.
1969-72 Designed scarf range for Firsthand Australia including Kangaroo, Captain Cook, Endeavour and Australia.
1970 Designed a 16 metre abstract comet mural for the Arrivals hall at Sydney International Airport.
1973 Douglas Annand: A Review published in Architecture in Australia
The Powerhouse Museum collection includes two Douglas Annand design archives, which are a valuable record of the design and architectural activity occurring in Sydney and Australia between the 1930s and 1970s. The first archive consists of material taken from Annand’s studio in Killara after he passed away. It includes ideas, sketches and exhibition catalogues, Annand’s designs for national and international architectural murals, posters and textiles, and objects relating to architectural commissions which Annand undertook during the 1950s and 60s.
The second archive includes material such as catalogues, notebooks, sketches and drawings, photographs, posters and correspondence relating to most of the projects Annand undertook during his career. The collection also includes artworks, sculptures, and textile, metal and glass objects.
The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra also holds a collection of Annand’s art-related material.
References
McDonald, Anne. Douglas Annand. The Art of Life. Canberra: National Gallery of Australia, 2001.
Ritchie, John, ed. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 13, 1940-1980, A-De. Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1993, p.60.
TAGS
+ Australian modernism
+ Poster design
Career Highlights
1932 Joint-winner of a competition to design a commemorative poster for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
1935-39 Annand’s graphic art appeared on the cover and inside Sydney Ure Smith's publications The Home, Art in Australia and the National Journal Australia.
1937 Designed a mural for the ceiling of the Australian Pavilion at the Paris International Exhibition.
1938 Created preliminary designs for new Australian coins.
1938-39 Art director for the Australian Pavilion at the New York World's Fair.
1940 Awarded two medals by the Australian Commercial and Industrial Artists’ Association.
1940 Art director for the New Zealand Centenary International Exhibition.
1941 Awarded the Sir John Sulman award for his mural at the Bathurst Public School.
1941-44 Camouflage artist with the Royal Australian Air Force (based in north Queensland and the Northern Territory).
1944 First solo exhibition of watercolours and drawings held at the David Jones Art Gallery, Sydney.
1945 Works exhibited at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and other state galleries as part of the exhibition Australia at War.
1947 Awarded the Sir John Sulman award for his mural The enjoyment of the sun and the sea in the Jantzen company boardroom.
1950 Created scarf designs for Holeproof including Douglas Annand looks at Sydney.
1951 Awarded the Sir John Sulman award for his mural on the Orient liner, RMS Oransay.
1951 Founding member of the Society of Sculptors.
1953 First prize in the Leroy-Alcorso Textile Design Competition.
1954 Produced award winning poster design for Australian National Travel Association.
1956 Member of Australia’s first Cultural Delegation to China.
1950s-60s Completed numerous painted, metal and glass sculptures, screens and murals for buildings in Australia.
1963 Advised on the design process for the new Australian decimal currency.
1969-72 Designed scarf range for Firsthand Australia including Kangaroo, Captain Cook, Endeavour and Australia.
1970 Designed a 16 metre abstract comet mural for the Arrivals hall at Sydney International Airport.
1973 Douglas Annand: A Review published in Architecture in Australia
The Powerhouse Museum collection includes two Douglas Annand design archives, which are a valuable record of the design and architectural activity occurring in Sydney and Australia between the 1930s and 1970s. The first archive consists of material taken from Annand’s studio in Killara after he passed away. It includes ideas, sketches and exhibition catalogues, Annand’s designs for national and international architectural murals, posters and textiles, and objects relating to architectural commissions which Annand undertook during the 1950s and 60s.
The second archive includes material such as catalogues, notebooks, sketches and drawings, photographs, posters and correspondence relating to most of the projects Annand undertook during his career. The collection also includes artworks, sculptures, and textile, metal and glass objects.
The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra also holds a collection of Annand’s art-related material.
References
McDonald, Anne. Douglas Annand. The Art of Life. Canberra: National Gallery of Australia, 2001.
Ritchie, John, ed. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 13, 1940-1980, A-De. Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1993, p.60.
TAGS
+ Australian modernism
+ Poster design