Robert Hague (born 1967, Rotorua, NZ), is an Australian artist living and working in Melbourne, Victoria.McCulloch's Encyclopedia of Australian Art, (2006) Migunyah Press. He is best known for his metal and marble sculpture and his detailed lithographic print work.
Biography Hague migrated to Australia in 1985Axia Modern Art Gallery , Melbourne and at first exhibited painting (Rotorua Art Prize, Caulfield Art Prize) before concentrating on sculpture.<ref>Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney</ref> His first sculpture exhibition was titled "Why Not?" at Tap Gallery in Sydney, which included the artists James Powditch and Mark Booth, among others.'Art Bulletin', Darlinghurst. Issue No 81, March/April 1998 In 1998 he exhibited at the fledgling Sculpture by the Sea and in 1999 was awarded the inaugural Sculpture by the Sea, Director's Prize.'Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2000' printed catalogue. From 1996 - 2000 he exhibited at Defiance Gallery including the Miniature shows "The Defiant 6"", "Big Thoughts, Small Works" and "The Importance of being Tiny"Defiance Gallery, Sydney. Printed invitations: 14 November 1998, 24 November 1999, 22 November 2000 with King St Gallery. In 2001 he joined Stella Downer Fine Art at the newly opened Danks Street Gallery Complex.Danks Street Galleries, Sydney
From 1999 to 2003 he was workshop assistant to senior sculptor Ron Robertson-Swann OAM (formally assistant to sculptor Henry Moore (1898-1986)Ken Scarlett. Elgee Park, Sculpture in the Land. (2010) Macmillan Art Publishing, Melbourne. ), with his first solo exhibitions in 2003 at Lister Calder Gallery,Art Seen in WA, Judith Mcgrath: Stella Downer Fine ArtSydney Morning Herald, Critics Pick. 3/10/ 2003 and the Mosman Art Gallery.Robert Hague, Sculpture. Mosman Gallery, 11 December 2003 – 25 January 2004. Printed invitation. He has since exhibited in more than 120 group and solo shows'Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2012' printed catalogue. and is represented in both public and corporate collections in Australia and overseas.World Sculpture News (magazine), Asian Art Press. Vol 17, winter 2011.
In 2013 a ten-year retrospective of his work was held by Deakin University Gallery in Melbourne, including the publication 'Deca' with essays by Ashley Crawford and Ken Scarlett. In 2014 a biographical film was produced by Peter Lamont called Uncertain Ciphers and includes interviews with the art critics Andrew Frost, Ken Scarlett and art dealer Lisa Fehily.
More recently, Hague was shortlisted for the 2015 Wynne prize at the Art Gallery of NSW, and the 2016 Blake Prize at the Casula Powerhouse, winning the Established Artist Residency. In 2016 the marble sculpture Shutdown was acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria from the exhibition 'Inaugural' at Nicholas Projects.Inaugural @ Nicholas Projects
Lithography In 2012 Hague began a series of lithographic prints with master printmaker Peter Lancaster at his Melbourne print studios, Lancaster Press In 2016 the 'plate series' was acquired by the National Gallery of Australia. Following the National Gallery of Victoria print commission for Melbourne Now 2022, Hague began his own small Newport print studio.
Commissions Significant commissions include Stride Orbis (2013) a 65 tonne concrete sculpture for Form700 head offices, Melbourne. Sol, Repose, One Mile and Skel (2010) for the Polo Club Hotel, Tianjin, China. West Orbis (2009) 4m sculpture for Chadstone Shopping Centre. Decent (2007) for the 50th Anniversary, Thredbo, Mt Kosciusko. Genus (2005) Macquarie Group Sovereign Centre foyer, 99 Bathurst St, Sydney. Fervor (2005) Four Seasons Hotel foyer, Hong Kong. Orbis (2005) Emporio Apartments foyer, Sussex St, Sydney. NSW and The Ocean Series (2001) 20 sculpture, patron commission for Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney.
Awards 2016: The Blake Prize, Established Artist Residency, Sydney 2011: Lorne Sculpture 2011 small sculpture Award Lorne, Vic 2010: Deakin University contemporary small sculpture award,Award 2010deakin.edu.au Melbourne. 2009: Yarra Trams Award,Historytooraksculpture.com.au Toorak Sculpture Prize. Melbourne. 2000: Waverley Art Prize, Sculpture. Sydney. 1999: The Director's Prize, Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney Sydney.
Collections National Gallery of Australia National Gallery of Victoria National Library of Australia Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery Art Gallery of NSW, Members, Sydney Geelong Art Gallery Gippsland Art Gallery The Consulate of Malawi, Melbourne Deakin University Art Collection, Melbourne Edith Cowan University, Perth St John of God Hospital, PerthPoly Club Hotel, Tianjin, China Kosciuszko Thredbo Pty Ltd, Thredbo Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong Chadstone Shopping Centre, Melbourne Emporio Apartments, Sydney Concept Blue Apartments, Melbourne Top of the Town Apartments, Sydney Sovereign Centre, Sydney Leopold, Melbourne Form700 corporate offices, Melbourne Bulknet Pty Ltd, SydneyBaillieu & Sarah Myer John & Pauline Gandel Morry Fraid Smorgon Collection Marco Belgiorno-Zegna Armando Percuoco Tetsuya Wakuda Helen Turner Rosemary Foot Tony Geddes Ron KaplanArtist's Resume (.doc) http://www.roberthague.com/sculpture/CV%20-%20Robert%20Hague.doc
Gallery - Timeline
References
Plowman, John. The Sculptor's Bible. (2005) Quarto Publishing Plc. Sculpture by the Sea 1997-2011. (2011) Media 21 Publishing. Sculpture by the Sea, print catalogues: Bondi :, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2011. Cottesloe : 2005, 2006, 2011. World Sculpture News. 'Deakin Sculpture Award'. Winter 2011 The Sun Herald, Life Magazine. 'Q&A', Chris Sheedy. 5/11/06 The Australian Art Market Report . Issue 6. 12/02
External links Artist's website