Anton Holzner


A Painters Celebration, 2005

Anton Holzner (b 1935), artist. His concern is the articulation of paint on canvas to create an imaginary spatial reality beyond the visible and material world we occupy. Vigorous painterliness and tonal use of colour contribute to his work's overall gravity. Holzner is part of a movement of mid-twentieth century abstract painting in Europe, which first began to be felt in Australia in the 1950s and 1960s. Born in Austria, he studied theatre design before emigrating to Australia and settling in Adelaide. He moved to Hobart in 1971. His first major exhibition was at John Reed's Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne in 1963. More recently, surveys of his work were staged at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart 1988 and the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston 1997.

Further reading: H Kolenberg, 'Three painters in Tasmania ', Art in Australia 22/4, 1985; and Holzner paintings, Hobart, 1988; S Backhouse, Holzner paintings 1988–1997, Launceston, 1997.

Hendrik Kolenberg