Description

Frank Wesley (1923-2002) was an internationally recognised Indian-Australian artist. Wesley was born in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh.

In 1943, he enrolled at the Lucknow School of Arts and Crafts where he met Bengal School painter Bireshwar Sen and studied painting under his tutelage. Sen encouraged Wesley pursued two further years of post-graduate studies in Lucknow, as well as four years at the College of Fine Art, Kyoto, Japan where he studied wood block printing. He later received scholarship to study modern art at the Art Institute of Chicago for two years.

Wesley painted on both biblical and secular themes. He worked in a variety of mediums including water colour, gouache, oils and wood. His work has been internationally recognised. He designed the urn for the ashes of Mahatma Ghandhi. Five of his paintings were included in the 1950 Holy Year Exhibition at the Vatican. "The Blue Madonna" was used as the first UNICEF Christmas card. In 1973, he emigrated to Australia with his family. He continued to paint prolifically until his death in 2002.