Black and red

Carl Plate was born in Perth and studied at the National Art School, Sydney 1930–35 and in London at the St Martins and Central Schools from 1935-40. His career had an international outlook – while he was based in Sydney for most of his life, he travelled extensively, spending extended periods in Europe (particularly London and Paris), and visited the USA and Mexico. He was a foundation member of the Contemporary Art Society and operated the best art and design gallery/bookshop in Sydney of the post-war period (Notanda Gallery, established by his sister Margel Lewers in Rowe St in the city). There he dealt in prints and drawings as well as books and reproductions, and was a keen proponent of modernism – e.g. the inaugural exhibition at Notanda was of modern British painting, in 1940. His primary interest remained, however, painting, drawing and printmaking, and he worked assiduously up to his death in 1977.

© Australian Art Department, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2004