by Jon Lackman | 5 April 2006 | Contemporary
Recently deceased Australian artist Pro Hart — like Thomas Kinkade, Jack Vettriano, Norman Rockwell, Andrew Wyeth, and countless others before him — has generated controversy, as a beloved artist disdained by many in the art world. According to The Australian, “Barry Pearce, the curator of Australian art at the Art Gallery of NSW, was the only one brave enough this week to put his cards on the table.” Museums, he said, “try to collect the greatest artists, the ones whose works will have meaning over time. Pro, very early in his career, discovered a language, a voice that became very popular. It was very formulaic, but it brought pleasure to many people. But it’s rather like comparing Slim Dusty to Mozart. There’s nothing wrong with Slim Dusty’s music. It just has a different appeal; it’s a voice of the people.”
