Nothing is currently known of Joyce Abbott’s background or training but most likely Sydney based. She was active by 1932 as a member of the Australian Watercolour Institute and had a work accepted in the Health Department Poster Competition in 1934. Abbott had enough work to have a joint exhibition with already established Sydney illustrator and children’s book author, Pixie O’Harris at the Wynyard Book Club, Sydney, in 1937. Joyce later illustrating O’Harris’s Aboriginal theme book Goolara in 1943. Abbott contributed a picture story of her own on 'The adventures of Naroo and his playmate, Kawana’ to the 2 November issue of The New South Wales school magazine of literature for our boys and girls indicating that Abbott may have travelled to Central Australia. The story line makes for an interesting comparison with the award winning 1957 children’s photographic book by Axel Poignant Piccaninny walkabout:a story of two Aboriginal children of 1957 Abbott remained a contributor to the magazine until 1947.
Joyce Abbott was a finalist in the 1943 Wynne Prize and the 1944 and 1945 Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Abbott illustrated other children’s books including Grandpuff and Leafy by Gladys Lister in 1943 and in 1953 _A booklet for Australian Museum Sydney Australian Aborigines / illustrated by Joyce Abbott ; in collaboration with Beryl Graham and F.D.McCarthy _ but has no known work in from the late 1950s on. A scant few works in oil and on paper are listed at auction.
- Writers:
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- Date written:
- 2019
- Last updated:
- 2019
