David Fairbairn is a Zambian-born Australian artist renowned for his powerful and psychologically charged portraits. Born in 1949, he studied at the West Surrey College of Art and Design and the Royal Academy Schools in London before moving to Australia in the early 1980s. Based in Wedderburn, southwest of Sydney, Fairbairn has established himself as one of Australia's most respected contemporary draughtsmen and portrait artists.
Working across drawing, painting, printmaking and mixed media, Fairbairn is best known for his monumental portrait heads that explore memory, identity and human presence. His distinctive mark-making combines delicacy and intensity, creating works that are both intimate and commanding.
Over a career spanning more than four decades, Fairbairn has received numerous major awards, including the Dobell Prize for Drawing in 1999 and the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2002. He has been a frequent finalist in prestigious awards including the Archibald Prize and his work is held in significant public collections such as the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
A respected educator as well as a practising artist, Fairbairn taught for many years at the National Art School in Sydney, influencing generations of emerging artists through his commitment to drawing as a vital contemporary practice.
We talk about his new monograph, Paper Works, exploring the ideas, decisions and creative process behind its development. David reflects on a lifelong dedication to drawing, discussing what success means to him and how the deep interrogation of a subject continues to shape his artistic practice.
David's new monograph, Paperworks, is out now through Art Ink. The book launch will be at Nanda Hobbs, Sydney, at 2pm Saturday 14th Novmeber.
David's show, Proof of Identity, opens at Nanda Hobbs gallery in Sydney on 5th November 2026 and runs until 21st November 2026.
","author_name":"Fiona Verity, Julie Nicholson and Gary Seller"}