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Robert Studley Forrest Hughes (born 1938), usually known simply as Robert Hughes, OA is an Australian art critic, writer, documentary broadcaster and republican (anti-monarchist). He resides in New York.
Born in Sydney, Australia, Hughes was educated at St Ignatius' College before going on to study arts and architecture at the University of Sydney in 1956. During this time Hughes made a name for himself within the Sydney "Push" -- a progressive group of artists, writers, intellectuals and drinkers. Among the group were two other blazingly witty and incisive cultural observers: Germaine Greer and Clive James. Hughes left university before graduating after being commissioned to write a history of Australian painting, The Art of Australia, while still an undergraduate.
Hughes left Australia for London, England in the early 1960s, writing for such publications as the Spectator, the Telegraph, the Times and the Observer, before eventually landing the position of art critic for TIME magazine in 1970.
Hughes quickly established a position as a notable and influential art critic.
In 1988 he attracted controversy for rubbishing an exhibition of new work by the much regarded neo-expressionist painter Julian Schnabel. At the time it was widely accepted that critics had a suppine relationship with galleries and artists and Hughes attack greatly affected Schnabel's reputation. Family tragedy visited upon Hughes in April 2001 when his sculptor son Danton, aged 33, committed suicide in Australia.
Hughes has continued to write for TIME magazine, although less frequently than before a serious vehicle accident in Australia in 1998. After a day out fishing Hughes was driving alone when his vehicle collided head on with a truck. Hughes was is a coma for several weeks and had no memory of the crash. A case was brought against the drivers of the other vehicle but only limited damages were given. Hughes created new controversy when his racist remarks about the Asian Australian judge became public.
In recent years he has become a prominent spokesperson for the Australian Republican Movement.
Honours
Publications
- The Art of Australia, 1966. ISBN
- The Shock of the New: Art and the Century of Change, 1981. ISBN
- The Fatal Shore, 1987. ISBN
- The Shock of the New: Art and the Century of Change, updated and enlarged edition, Thames & Hudson, 1991. ISBN 0500275823
- Nothing if Not Critical, 1991.
- Barcelona,
- Culture of Complaint, 1993. ISBN
- American Visions: The Epic History of Art in America, 1997. ISBN
- A Jerk on One End: Reflections of a Mediocre Fisherman, 1998. ISBN
- The New Shick of the New, 2004.
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