Design and Art Australia Online

Painter, born New Zealand and came to Australia with his family as a child. They named their Australian house Gisborne after the place of Elioth’s birth. Gruner began art classes under Julian Ashton, whilst working as a drapers assistant during the day. He first exhibited with Society of Artists in early 1900’s, and continued to do so for the remainder of his life.
In 1911 he became manager of 'The Fine Arts’, a shop organised by Julian Ashton to sell local artists’ work. At this time he began travelling and camping throughout country NSW to find inspiration for his work.

In 1922 two of his works were accepted by the Royal Academy in London for display. Gruner’s mother died in 1923, allowing Gruner to travel overseas for the first time. He visited London, Paris, Italy and England. Gruner had his first one-man exhibition in 1926 at the Macquarie Galleries. It was a sell out. In 1928 his work was exhibited in the Salon des Beaux Arts in Paris.

In 1930 Gruner returned to New Zealand for a lengthy stay. His paintings, however, were rarely seen there until they toured in a group show in 1964. Gruner won the Wynne Prize, held by the AGNSW, seven times during his career. In 1916 it was awarded to Morning Light, in 1919 Spring Frost, in 1921_ Valley of the Tweed_, in 1929 On the Murrumbidgee, in 1934 Murrumbidgee Ranges, Canberra, in 1936 _Landscape _and in 1937 Weetangera, Canberra.

The AGNSW held a exhibition of 100 loaned works of Elioth Gruner in 1932-33.

Gruner was hospitalised in 1927 for alcoholism and depression. In 1935 he suffered a nervous breakdown and is again hospitalised. He died 17 October 1939.

In 1940, the AGNSW held a memorial exhibition of 252 of his works.

Writers:

Staff Writer

Date written:

1999

Last updated:

2013