Eric Smith, Australian artist, Died at 97

  Artists

Eric John Smith was born on August 5, 1919, and died on February 20, 2017.

He was an award-winning Australian artist.

He was the recipient of Australia’s major art prizes multiple times including the Archibald Prize for portraiture three times; the Wynne Prize twice; the Sulman Prize three times; and the Blake Prize for Religious Art six times.

He was born and raised in Brunswick, Melbourne.

At 17 years old Smith undertook the study of Commercial Art and Painting at the Brunswick Technical School and joined the Victorian Artists Society.

He then join the army after which he did a self-portrait painted on an army canvas was runner-up for the Archibald Prize, in 1945.

He gained further international recognition after winning the Helena Rubenstein Art Award.

Eric Smith passed away at 97 years old.