Kevin Charles Hart MBE (1928-2006) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Kevin Charles "Pro, Professor" Hart MBE

Born 30 May 1928 in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Son of Robert Leslie Hart and Kathleen Mary (Cope) Hart

[sibling(s) unknown]

Husband of [private wife (1930s - unknown)]

Descendants

Father of [private daughter (1960s - unknown)]

Died 28 Mar 2006 at age 77 in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

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Profile last modified 27 Jan 2024 | Created 27 Feb 2019

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1 Biography
2 Sources
3 See also

Biography

Kevin Hart MBE is Notable.

'Pro' Hart MBE was an Australian artist who was considered the 'father of the Australian Outback painting movement'. His works are widely admired for capturing the true spirit of the outback. He was also a sculptor, working with welded steel, bronze and ceramics. Hart was noted for his generosity, philanthropy and deeply-held Christian beliefs.

Formative years

Born Kevin Charles Hart on 30th May 1928 at Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, his early years were spent on Larloona, the family sheep station at Menindee, around 130kms from Broken Hill, being educated by correspondence school along with his brother, 'Bob'. He was nicknamed "Professor" (hence "Pro") during his early days, when he was known as an inventor moreso than an artist. In his early twenties, Pro moved back to Broken Hill and obtained work as a miner. ^[1]

Pro married nineteen year-old Raylee June Tonkin in 1960 at Broken Hill. ^[2] The couple had five children.

Creativity

Although loving to sketch and draw from an early age, Pro began taking his gift seriously as a creative outlet to 'keep him sane' from underground life as a miner. He attended a few local art classes to develop his gift, but remained primarily self-taught. ^[3] He was 'discovered' in 1962 by Kim Bonython, a gallery owner from Adelaide, and his popularity as an outback artist began to climb. ^[1]

From drawing and sketching to the famed landscapes and narrative paintings of his heyday, Pro was energised by all forms of creativity. Typically, he used oil or acrylic paint, using paint brushes and sponges. His scenes are mostly of rural town life, topical commentary, and religious subjects. ^[1] As well as throughout Australia, his work has been exhibited all over the world, including London, Dusseldorf, Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Israel, Cairo and Manila, in the finest of galleries and venues, with many of his exhibitions being sell-outs. Most of his work sold from his own three-storey gallery - the Pro Hart Family Gallery - in his native Broken Hill. Pro is the only artist in the world to mark his original artwork with DNA. ^[3]

Along with layering, chiaroscuro, glazing, scumbling, scratching and Alla prima techniques, Pro was known for his novel 'cannon painting' and 'balloon painting'; an example of 'cannon' being a television commercial for stain resistant carpet wherein he covered the entire carpet with a dragon fly. ^[4] His mural-designed Rolls Royce is certainly impressive.

Sadly, Pro was dismissed during his lifetime by many critics as a mere showman, with his art often judged as 'populist and derivative, and not good enough for serious critical attention'. ^[5] Outside of painting, Pro collected vintage cars and motor cycles, and invented many kinds of engines and machines. He also enjoyed pistol shooting, reading the Bible, and organ music. He was the proud owner of a Rodgers electric pipe organ, installed in his gallery, said to be the largest of its kind in Australia. ^[3]

Pro was known for his charitable work and generosity, as well as his strong Christian beliefs. He was a member of the Gideons organisation, and often surprised acquaintances by presenting them with hand-decorated copies of the New Testament. ^[1]

Recognition and honours

Pro Hart was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday honours, June 1976. ^[6] In 1982 he received an Honorary Life Membership of Society International Martinique for outstanding artistic achievement. ^[3] He received an Australian Citizen of the Year award in 1983 ^[3] and the Centenary Medal in the New Year's honours 2001 for 'service to art and volunteer service to the community including through fundraising'. ^[7] Broken Hill town council honoured him by declaring 2004 the Year of Pro Hart. ^[1]

Final canvas

Pro Hart developed motor neurone disease in later life, so much so that he was unable to paint for the last six months of his life. Aged 77 years, he passed away on 28th March 2006 at Broken Hill. A large state funeral was held for him on 4th April 2006 in Broken Hill — the first state funeral in New South Wales to be held west of the Blue Mountains — following which his remains were interred in Broken Hill Cemetery. ^[8]

Pro is survived by his wife of 45 years, Raylee, ^[9] their children John, Kym, ^[10] Marie, ^[11] Julie ^[12] and David, ^[13] and grandchildren. His legacy lives on, and grows, through his children and grandchildren.

Sources

Featured German connections: Kevin is 24 degrees from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 27 degrees from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 24 degrees from Lucas Cranach, 27 degrees from Stefanie Graf, 23 degrees from Wilhelm Grimm, 24 degrees from Fanny Hensel, 29 degrees from Theodor Heuss, 22 degrees from Alexander Mack, 38 degrees from Carl Miele, 18 degrees from Nathan Rothschild, 24 degrees from Hermann Friedrich Albert von Ihering and 24 degrees from Ferdinand von Zeppelin on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.

Kevin Charles Hart MBE (1928 - 2006)

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