Howard John Arkley

Howard Arkley was one of Australia's most influential and innovative designers of the 20th century. He worked in various media, including graphic design, textile design, mural painting, sculpture, and architectural work. He was known for his elegant and modern style, as well as his versatility and creativity. He received international recognition for his designs for the Australian pavilions at the Paris International Exhibition in 1937 and the New York World's Fair in 1939. He also contributed to the development of camouflage techniques during World War II, as a member of the Camouflage Committee and a camouflage officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. He won the Sir John Sulman Prize for mural painting three times, and designed many murals for public and private buildings, such as the P&O liners Orcades and Oronsay, the University of Melbourne's Wilson Hall, and the Sydney Airport International Terminal. He also designed posters, fabrics, brochures, menus, magazine covers, coins, stamps, and logos for various clients and organizations. He was inducted into the AGDA Paperpoint Hall of Fame in 2000. His works are held in several national and state galleries, as well as in the University of Queensland Fryer Library. He died of a heroin overdose in 1999 at the age of 48.