Vale: Geoff Dyer 1947-2020

Written by: Evan Lowenstein

We were all deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Geoff Dyer, one of Tasmania’s most important and celebrated contemporary artists.

Geoff was an inspiring force within the contemporary Tasmanian art scene; and also recognised nationally through his commanding interpretations of the landscape. Geoff lived and breathed painting, constantly driven to make his mark and share his love of depicting the landscape in its many forms and moods.

Geoff had a highly celebrated professional career spanning over fifty years, with countless solo exhibition nationally, as well as exhibitions in Singapore, Guangdong and New York. His work is held in numerous important collections including the National Portrait Gallery, Artbank, the University of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). His work has been hung in the New South Wales Art Gallery over twenty times as a finalist in the Archibald Prize, the Wynne Prize and/or Sulman Prizes. Most notably, Geoff won the Archibald Prize in 2003, with a portrait of author, conservationist and friend, Richard Flanagan. Geoff is only the second Tasmanian to ever win the Archibald Prize.

On a personal note I was a great friend of Geoff and would visit him regularly on my trips to Hobart where he would entertain me at many distinctive bars and restaurants where he was a regular and popular patron.

He also would travel regularly to Melbourne where we would catch up and he was always up for a chat and a drink, being impeccably dressed in a style more resembling a managing director of a top company than an artist, only his paint covered hands would give away his true identity.

We send our condolences to his family and friends.