Peter Kingston b. 8 May 1943

  • Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator),
  • Artist (Printmaker),
  • Artist (Painter),
  • Artist (Sculptor)
Sydney painter, printmaker and cartoonist. Kingston was one of the key figures in Martin Sharp’s Yellow House. Many of his works honoured comic strip heroes, especially the Phantom. He is also well known for paintings of Sydney Harbour ferries.
Tags: Oz, Yellow House, comic strip heroes, Sydney Harbour, ferries, Australiana, The Phantom

Born Sydney 1943 and was first introduced to art at Cranbrook school with Justin O’Brien, where he also met his friend and collaborator Martin Sharp.

On leaving school Kingson studied architecture and arts at the University of New South Wales, but was more interested in drawing than design. However his studies led to a long friendship with Jan Utzon, the son of Jorn Utzon, the architect for the Sydney Opera House. When Utzon was effectively dismissed by the Askin government in 1966, Kingston was one of many who marched in protest.
Peter Kingston’s first published cartoons were drawn for the student newspaper, Tharunka. Later he gravitated to OZ, which was dominated by the graphic style of his old school friend, Martin Sharp. His first exhibition was at Hyde Park with Mlck Glasheen and John Allen. Later her participated in the OZ Super Art Market exhibition at Clune Galleries. He also made experimental movies.

In 1971 he became one of the artists who created the communal Yellow House in Sydney’s Kings Cross. His most important work from this time was his contribution to the Stone Room, made for the Spring 1971 exhibition. He also created the Elephant house, made magic shows and participated In some of the performances.

His love of the whimsical nature of comic book heroes led him to make fantasy versions of the life of the Phantom, as well as Snugglepot & Cuddlepie. His mother once knitted a jumper showing his design of Superman unzipping his fly.

In the 1970s, along with Martin Sharp, Peter Kingston became an activist in the campaign to save Luna Park from the developers. He was a fierce campaigner for Sydney’s heritage, whether it be the remnant bush land near his Lavender Bay home or the ferries on Sydney Harbour. The Harbour, the bridge, the ferries and the beauty of moonlight on water, iconic buildings and the bushy foreshores became dominant subjects in his later paintings.
Even as he was dying from lung cancer, he continued to campaign to save North Sydney’s modernist MLC building from the hands of the developers.

Writers:
Kerr, Joan
Olivia Bolton
Joanna Mendelssohn
Date written:
1996
Last updated:
2022