Series 809 - Nigel Lendon papers and research materials

Nigel Lendon was a prominent figure in the Australian contemporary arts scene and was Deputy Director of the Canberra School of Art 1988-2012. He was born in Adelaide in 1944. His father, Alan Harding Lendon, was Professor of Surgery at Adelaide University which initially influenced Nigel to pursue medical studies before he shifted his focus to art. He attended the South Australian School of Art from 1964. His early works were exhibited in the 1967 Mildura Art Prize and in group exhibitions. He was one of the younger artists included in the National Gallery of Victoria's inaugural exhibition ‘The Field’ in 1968, and was recognised as one of Australia’s first Minimalist artists.

In 1972 Nigel Lendon joined the teaching faculty of the Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education to teach sculpture. He was awarded a Harkness Fellowship and from 1974 to 1976 moved to New York where he became a Fellow at the Art and Language Institute. Returning to Sydney, Australia he taught at the Sydney College of the Arts from 1977-1988 and was involved in organisations including the Artworkers Union and the Media Action Group.

In 1988, Lendon was appointed Deputy Director of the Canberra School of Art which later became part of the Australian National University (ANU). He established the PhD program and continued his art practice and curation while teaching. He curated, in conjunction with Wally Caruana and Djon Mundine, ‘The Painters of the Wagilag Sisters Story 1937-1997’ at the National Gallery of Australia. In 2002, Lendon with Tim Bonyhady curated an exhibition of war rugs which then toured. The ARC Discovery Project ‘The Rugs of War’ and the 2021 Drill Hall Gallery exhibition ‘I weave what I have seen: the war rugs of Afghanistan’ followed. Nigel Lendon taught, mentored and fostered the careers of artists including ‘outsider’ artist Slim Barrie.

Retiring in 2012, Lendon returned to studio practice, exhibiting, undertaking collaborative arts projects and continuing curatorial work. Hi work is held in the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia, Art Gallery of NSW and regional galleries.

Nigel Lendon died in 2021 after a battle with brain cancer.