Who is
Per Henry Garman-Vik?
His early life could have been straight out of a Jack London novel. The young Garman-Vik went whaling with his father, worked as a cowboy for a number of years in New Zealand, jumped a ship in Australia 1956 and ended up in a bar in Sydney with only a few pounds in his pocket. He resided there for 31 years. It was in Sydney that his love of painting and drawing reached fruition. He was educated at the Julian Ashton Art School, East Sydney Technical College and the National Art School (1956 -62).
He had many interesting and unusual jobs at the same time he was a student. Among others he started a window-cleaning business and employed 11 people - he had a millinery business and sold hats to exclusive shops and boutiques - he made jewellery - he painted people's houses and did lots of odd jobs.
After graduating from college he was employed as an "Art Master" and taught at various schools and institutions in Sydney. It was in 1970 after having worked at the prestigious Sydney Grammar School that he decided to try and make his living as a professional artist.
This resulted in several exhibitions in well-known galleries and various commissions. In the following 15 years he decorated a number of important, public buildings in Sydney and Melbourne - and his work was acquired by private collectors throughout Australia.
In 1986 he returned to Norway with his Australian wife and three children - they now live in Oslo. He has had 12 successful exhibitions since returning to Norway and his paintings have been bought by many major companies - including The Norwegian Medical Association in Oslo who purchased nine of his major works for its headquaters, while Zurich Insurance in 1966 nominated him as Artist of the Year. He was also nominated the Artist of the Year by Tine Norske Meierier Sunmøre and in 2000 Orkla acquired "The Happy Hour" and presented it as a gift for the new Ringnes Museum.
His paintings have been described as romantic, colourful and expressionistic - a colourful amalgam of wit and tenderness - music is also an important element in his imagery.
Per Henry Garman-Vik has also run a private art school in Oslo for eleven years. He conducts six classes a week and his students come from all walks of life and professions - what they do have in common is a desire and need to be creative. As a result of his teaching - some of the students have become independent artists who now take on commissions and take part in exhibitions.
A biography of Per Henry Garman-Vik by the English writer John Button will be available in the not too distant future.