Ian Gentle (1945 -2009 )

Ian Gentle’s working life began with mining, drilling and gouging in north-western Queensland and the Northern Territory in the 1960s. He moved to the South Coast of NSW in the late 1970s where he commenced his sculpture with sticks.

One of his many awards was the Blake Prize for Religious Art in 1979. Exhibitions included Macquarie Galleries, Stella Downer Fine Art, Wollongong City Gallery and inclusion in Identities: Art from Australia (Taiwan). He was exhibiting artist at the 1982 Adelaide Festival. Gentle undertook Artist-in Residencies at the King’s School and Long Bay Gaol and with many other arts organisations.

Gentle’s teaching career included lecturer at the National Art School, Sydney, West Wollongong TAFE, Liverpool TAFE, University of Sydney’s Tin Sheds and Coordinator of Sculpture in UOW’s Faculty of Creative Arts. His association with the region encompassed his long friendship with Flugelman and Warren who were once all neighbours on Jamberoo Mountain.

A renowned and respected artist, Gentle’s work reflected his fascination for all creatures including the lowlife of nature as can be seen in Whispering Ant and Salivating Croc which grace the Library’s foyers. His trademark humour and wit was an integral part of his work which could be described perhaps as more about drawing than sculpture. A number of Gentle’s prints are also on show in the Library.

Content by: Associate Librarian, Client Services