Who is Jack Absalom?

John Henry Absalom OAM (11 November 1927 – 22 March 2019) was an Australian artist, author and adventurer.

Born in Port Augusta, South Australia, he worked in the North Mine at Broken Hill, New South Wales, where he resided since 1953. He was brought happening in Nullarbor, west of Port Augusta, and from an ahead of time age developed a wide knowledge of the Australian outback from Indigenous Australians (Aboriginals) who existed in tribes at that time.

In 1972, Absalom made a trip to the Flinders Ranges bearing in mind a intervention of artists. Although he had never painted before, he felt a good urge to paint the landscape and a natural gift was discovered. He was one of the members of the Brushmen of the Bush – a outfit of five artists who exhibited for many years in Australia and whatever over the world raising allowance for charity. In April 1997, he opened his gallery in Broken Hill which showcased his oil paintings, prints, publications, DVDs and his opal collection. Each year Absalom went into the Australian outback for two months to paint.

He after that starred in a number of television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) covering leftover techniques and documentaries on the Australian outback, including Absalom’s Outback, when he travelled to proud outback locations in a Chrysler Sigma.

Absalom was the recipient of various awards, including “Australian Achiever of the Year Award” 1988 and the “Advance Australia Award” in 1995, both acknowledging his contribution to art; “Broken Hill Citizenship Award” for his promotion of Broken Hill; and Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2006 for assist to the visual arts as a painter and to the community through fundraising for a range of charitable organisations.

Jack Absalom died in Broken Hill on 22 March 2019 at the age of 91.