Vale Guy Warren

Second World War veteran and artist Guy Warren passed away early this morning, Friday 14 June 2024, aged 103.

Born in Goulburn in regional NSW in 1921, Mr Warren had a career spanning more than 80 years.

Mr Warren enlisted in the Australian Army when he was 21 and was later stationed in New Guinea and Bougainville during the Second World War. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant with the 136 Advance Supply Depot. When he returned home after the war, he trained at the National Art School, which is where his war-time experiences began to feature in the works he created.

With more than 60 solo exhibitions and numerous awards, including the Archibald Prize, Mr Warren’s works are featured in collections across the globe.

He has a current exhibition at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park Sydney, An Artist in the Army; Guy Warren on Bougainville 1944-45.

The exhibition opening on 20 May 2024 was well received by the visual arts community and family of Mr Warren who were in attendance.

Mr Warren acknowledged that the exhibition was “a celebration of his art and military service”.

The temporary exhibition features 38 sketches, 3 painting and 14 photographs created by Mr Warren during his military service in Bougainville between October 1944 and the Japanese surrender in 1945.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr Warren at the opening of his latest exhibition. It was a privilege to sit with him and hear his stories and explanations of the amazing artwork, photographs and portraits from his personal collection.

I am saddened to hear of his passing this morning.

I encourage anyone who is interested in military history and the arts to visit the Anzac Memorial and view the great work of Mr Warren, and to honour the service of a Second World War veteran.

My thoughts are with Mr Warren’s two children, Joanna and Paul, along with the rest of his family at this time.

 

MEDIA: Matt Porter | Minister Harris | 0407 239 578

Download the media statement