Chris Gentle

Chris Gentle (b. 1939) is a British-born Australian artist renowned for his evocative abstract landscapes that explore the emotional resonance of place and memory. Trained in painting, drawing, sculpture, and lithography at the West Sussex College of Art and London University, Gentle immigrated to Australia in 1967. His artistic journey has been marked by a deep engagement with the Australian landscape, often reflecting its beauty, fragility, and the passage of time.

Beyond his practice as an artist, Gentle has significantly contributed to the Australian art community as an educator and curator. He began teaching at the National Art School in Sydney in 1969 and then from 1975 until 1995, he taught at what was to become The College of Fine Art, and served as the founding director of the Ivan Dougherty Gallery from 1977 to 1986. His works have been exhibited extensively and are held in major public collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Queensland Art Gallery.

In addition to his visual art, Gentle has contributed to art literature, authoring articles and essays on art and artists. Notably, he co-authored the monograph on Alun Leach-Jones, published by Craftsman House in 1988 and reprinted in 1995.