Robert Juniper

A West Australian born in Merredin on 7th January 1929, Juniper studied commercial art and industrial design at Beckenham School of Art, England. He returned to WA in 1949 and taught art. From 1974, Robert Juniper devoted himself full-time to painting, sculpting and printmaking.

Recognised as an artist of poetic and spontaneous vision, Juniper established himself as one of Australia’s leading painters. He was best known for his evocative depictions of the West Australian landscape. His main influences ranged from English painters of the early 1900s, Paul Klee, and Japanese work of the 19th century, through to his contemporary, Australian artist Sam Fullbrook.

Gomboc Gallery had a long association of nearly four decades with Robert with him having numerous solo exhibitions and involvement in group shows. The “Robert Juniper” book written by Philippa O’Brien and published by Craftsman House was officially launched at Gomboc Gallery 21st June 1992. (It was noted at the time by the CEO that it was the biggest turn-out to any book launch by Craftsman House and that indicated Robert’s popularity and recognition.)

Juniper had numerous one-person exhibitions throughout Australia, and his work can be found in all major Australian public collections. His artwork has been represented in group shows of Australian contemporary art abroad – London, USA, New Zealand 1959 – 1967 and in Europe, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and New Caledonia 1979 – 1998.

Robert was the recipient of many awards and honours, including the Wynn Prize for landscape painting in 1976 and 1980 and the Mona McCaughey Prize in 1980.

For his services to the arts in Western Australia, he was awarded a Western Australia Week Council’s Citizen of the Year Award (Cit.WA) in 1979. The University of Western Australia awarded Robert an honorary doctorate in 1984.

In 1998, along with eleven other artists, the Ministry for Culture and the Arts in Western Australia presented him with a State Living Treasures Award for his contribution to the Arts.

He was commissioned as the Festival of Perth artist for 1999. The only artist to have been asked twice, (the first time was in 1979 at the beginning of the late David Blenkinsop’s directorship).

The Art Gallery of Western Australia held a major survey exhibition of his work in 1999.

The Commonwealth Government awarded Robert the Centenary Medal for his services to Australian Landscape Painting in 2001.

In 2002 to enable Robert to complete a body of work he was working on prior to having a stroke he became an artist in residence at Gomboc Gallery working from his wheelchair, this showed the determination of his passion and commitment for his work.

On March 27, 2004 The Painters and Sculptors Association of Australia honoured Robert Juniper as one of Australia’s leading artists by presenting him with the Association’s medal in recognition of his lifetime contribution to Australian Arts.

As part of Australia Day celebrations 26 January 2011, Robert Juniper was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to the visual arts.

Robert passed away on 20th December 2012.

Gomboc Gallery continues to honour Robert Juniper by displaying and selling his work. In 2016 at the request of Robert’s children and Mandy Juniper, Gomboc Gallery held a retrospective exhibition, a number of these works are still available.

Robert Juniper had a great deal of passion for making sculpture, in the early days he had a small forge set up in his studio in Darlington, as he got older he received a number of large major commission work.

Brisbane expo followed by the Federal Law Courts coat of arms and six metre copper sculpture at the entrance. This was the beginning of Gomboc’s involvement by creating these large works in his foundry/studio in Middle Swan followed by the commission for Gallery 460 NSW, Sculpture by the Sea exhibitions, and the joint creation of the centrepiece for Juniper Park in Midland.

Installing Coat of Arms at Federal Law Courts Perth
Robert Juniper left, Ron Gomboc right