Mervyn Herbert Muhling (1929-2003), ‘Kelly’,

Etching/mixed media, 29.5 x 25cm (image), 50 x 40cm (frame). Artist Proof. Signed Muhling ’77, titled ‘Kelly’. Some scuffs to frame and yellowing to paper edges. Available for local pickup, otherwise courier to be arranged and paid for by bidder.
Australian artist Merv Muhling is remembered mainly as a gifted contemporary sculptor, however he worked across many disciplines including oil painting, sketching, leatherwork, woodwork, pottery, and jewellery (notably gold and silversmith work). This highly collectable piece is an interesting example of the artist’s lesser known printmaking oeuvre. Utilising an innovative mix of solarisation effect photography treatment and assorted print techniques, this work celebrates the legacy of Australian icon Ned Kelly.
An alumnus of the Central Technical College (Brisbane, Qld) and Rochester Institute of Technology (New York, USA), Muhling was born in 1929 in Toowoomba to parents of German heritage. His works are held in numerous collections around Australia, including Queensland Art Gallery, HOTA Gallery (Gold Coast) and the Queensland University of Technology Art Gallery, among others. Fellow artist William Robinson comments “Merv’s work renews our consciousness of the Australian Spirit and our unique landscapes [… it evokes] in us a feeling of place and belonging.”