Over a remarkable five-decade career, John Coburn emerged as one of Australia’s most respected and distinctive visual artists. His contribution to modern abstract art, religious symbolism, and national identity has been recognised through prestigious awards, global commissions, and critical acclaim. This page celebrates the honours, milestones, and influence that define Coburn’s enduring legacy.
Order of Australia (AM)
Awarded in 1980 for services to Australian art and education.
Honorary Doctorate – James Cook University
1991, recognising his artistic achievements and contribution to North Queensland's cultural identity.
Honorary Doctorate – National Art School
2004, acknowledging his work as both an influential artist and committed educator.
Blake Prize for Religious Art – Winner, 1960
“Triptych of the Passion” received this prestigious award, marking a major turning point in Coburn’s exploration of spiritual themes through abstract expression.
Curtains for the Sydney Opera House
Commissioned to create Curtain of the Sun and Curtain of the Moon for the Drama Theatre, bringing bold abstraction into one of the world’s most iconic cultural buildings.
The Seven Days of Creation – Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
A monumental tapestry work now permanently displayed in the U.S. capital, symbolising Coburn’s international impact.
Vatican Museum, Rome
Coburn’s work is among the select few Australian pieces in the permanent collection of the Vatican Museums.
Australia Post Christmas Stamp Series – 1999
40c: Madonna and Child
$1: Tree of Life
Aerogram: The Christ Child
These widely circulated artworks brought his spiritual and symbolic motifs to the hands and homes of Australians nationwide.
John Coburn’s work is represented in every major public art institution in Australia and key collections overseas:
National Gallery of Australia
Art Gallery of New South Wales
National Gallery of Victoria
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Vatican Museum, Rome
Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
Various private and university collections globally
“He is one of the very few painters in Sydney who has succeeded in endowing non-figurative work with genuine religious feeling.”
— Bernard Smith, art historian
“John Coburn… strives for the ideal. His commitment to the organic shape of his religious feeling has been unfailing.”
— Charles Blackman, artist
“Coburn is unlike any other significant Australian non-figurative painter... this near-religious ambition gives his work an impressive inner coherence.”
— Robert Hughes, Nation, 1960
Coburn’s influence extended beyond the gallery walls. He used his platform to speak on behalf of national and cultural causes, always with integrity and vision.
Advocated for Indigenous land rights and preservation of heritage sites — appearing publicly arm-in-arm with artist Janet Laurence.
Participated in the Australian Republican Flag Project, designing a modern flag for a future Australian republic.
Supported Sorry Day (1998) by publicly adding his name to the national register of support for the Stolen Generations.
John Coburn’s accolades are not only testaments to his artistic mastery but to his belief in art’s power to express the spiritual, the political, and the universal. His vibrant forms and rich symbolism continue to inspire generations of artists and audiences alike. One hundred years after his birth, his work remains as relevant and resonant as ever—reminding us of the beauty found in faith, form, and colour.