"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI"

"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI"

Kerry Wright, 1994

Oils on Canvas

210cm x 120cm (7ft x 4ft)

Mother Inferior. Mother Abyss. Sister Venus de Lilo. Sister Volupta. They are all one and the same person, for they are all aliases of the one and only, singularly unique, notoriously flamboyant, stigmatically joyous male nun, Fabian LoSchiavo. A founding member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in Sydney, Fabian was for many years a larger than life, instantly recognizable presence on the Sydney gay scene. He has since withdrawn from public life. When I painted his portrait in 1994, however, he was at the height of his fame and notoriety. I was looking for a celebrity personality to paint, for entry into Sydney’s Archibald Prize portraiture competition. The terms of the Archibald bequest stipulate that participating artists should paint the portrait of someone who has distinguished him/herself in public life. Fabian fitted the bill perfectly! The Archibald Prize is Australia’s most prestigious art prize. It is awarded annually by a panel of trustees appointed under the terms of the Archibald bequest. They are notoriously ruthless in their selections, eliminating the vast majority of entrants each year and only choosing a select number of portraits they consider suitable for hanging. Their choices are often contentious (“My five-year-old kid paints better than that!”) and invariably hit the headlines in Australia. Disgruntled applicants have been known to bring legal action against the trustees in the past (“That’s not a portrait, it’s a caricature!”). Alas, Fabian’s portrait did not impress the stuffy trustees, who deemed it to be not worthy of inclusion in the exhibition. I can’t imagine why!  All was not lost, however, for the painting was included in the Out Art Exhibition that year, as part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Cultural Festival. The opening night was a glittering occasion with the resplendently attired Fabian in attendance, where he held court at the foot of his portrait for the duration of the evening.

"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI" (Detail)

"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI" (Detail)

Kerry Wright, 1994

Oils on Canvas

Original 210cm x 120cm (7ft x 4ft)

Mother Inferior. Mother Abyss. Sister Venus de Lilo. Sister Volupta. They are all one and the same person, for they are all aliases of the one and only, singularly unique, notoriously flamboyant, stigmatically joyous male nun, Fabian LoSchiavo. A founding member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in Sydney, Fabian was for many years a larger than life, instantly recognizable presence on the Sydney gay scene. He has since withdrawn from public life. When I painted his portrait in 1994, however, he was at the height of his fame and notoriety. I was looking for a celebrity personality to paint, for entry into Sydney’s Archibald Prize portraiture competition. The terms of the Archibald bequest stipulate that participating artists should paint the portrait of someone who has distinguished him/herself in public life. Fabian fitted the bill perfectly! The Archibald Prize is Australia’s most prestigious art prize. It is awarded annually by a panel of trustees appointed under the terms of the Archibald bequest. They are notoriously ruthless in their selections, eliminating the vast majority of entrants each year and only choosing a select number of portraits they consider suitable for hanging. Their choices are often contentious (“My five-year-old kid paints better than that!”) and invariably hit the headlines in Australia. Disgruntled applicants have been known to bring legal action against the trustees in the past (“That’s not a portrait, it’s a caricature!”). Alas, Fabian’s portrait did not impress the stuffy trustees, who deemed it to be not worthy of inclusion in the exhibition. I can’t imagine why!  All was not lost, however, for the painting was included in the Out Art Exhibition that year, as part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Cultural Festival. The opening night was a glittering occasion with the resplendently attired Fabian in attendance, where he held court at the foot of his portrait for the duration of the evening.

"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI" (Detail)

"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI" (Detail)

Kerry Wright, 1994

Oils on Canvas

Original 210cm x 120cm (7ft x 4ft)

Detail taken from the portrait of Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, of the Sydney Chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, highlighting fabric, rosary and thurible, with incense smoke in the form of fairy dust.

"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI"

"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI"

Preliminary Study

Full Face

by Kerry Wright, 1994

Indian ink and charcoal on cartridge paper

Preliminary drawing executed prior to completion of the final work in oils on canvas.

"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI"

"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI"

Preliminary Study

Three-quarter Face

by Kerry Wright, 1994

Indian ink and charcoal on cartridge paper

Preliminary drawing executed prior to completion of the final work in oils on canvas.

"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI"

"Mother M. Fabian LoSchiavo, OPI"

Preliminary Study

Left Profile

by Kerry Wright, 1994

Indian ink and charcoal on cartridge paper

Preliminary drawing executed prior to completion of the final work in oils on canvas.