Albert Tucker (artist)

Albert Tucker (December 29, 1914- October 23, 1999) was an Australian artist, pivotal in the development of 20th century Australian Expressionist painting. Tucker is known as a member of the so-called "Heide Circle", a group of leading modern artists and writers that centred on the art patrons John Reed and Sunday Reed, whose home, "Heide", located at Heidelberg (outside Melbourne) was a haven for the group, and is now a museum of modern Australian art.

Related Topics:
December 29 - 1914 - October 23 - 1999 - John Reed - Sunday Reed

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The son of a railway worker, Tucker was forced to leave school at 15 and take on various jobs to help support his family. He was largely self-taught in painting, before enrolling in art school in 1937 when he achieved public recognition for his ?Self Portrait? (1937).

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In 1941, he married fellow artist Joy Hester, and they had a son, Sweeney. It emerged many years later that Tucker was not the boy's biological father -- it was probably Australian jazz drummer Billy Hyde, with whom Hester had had a brief affair. When Hester was later diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and moved to London, she gave Sweeney into the care of the Reeds, who adopted him.

Related Topics:
Joy Hester - Billy Hyde - Hodgkin's lymphoma

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Tucker produced a large series entitled Images of modern evil (1943-47) depicting the sordid behaviour of servicemen on leave and prostitutes in Melbourne.

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