Richard Bell:

Richard Bell has been called the "bad boy of Aboriginal art", however Bell himself sees himself as a propagandist and his art as liberation art. coloured synthetic polymer on canvas works His artwork addresses the Aboriginal oppression, government policies in Australia. The way the art industry has started a feeding frenzies on collecting Aboriginal artworks and Aboriginal art industries and non-Aboriginal Australia’s fascination with the natives artwork. 


Background:Richard Bell was born in Charleville, Queensland, in 1953 the eldest of two boys, the family moved around in search of work. His father was often absent due to working as a drover and cane cutter. His mother died when he was 17, he and one of his younger brothers were fostered by Nellie and Harold Leedie in Bowenville in south-east Queensland after the Queensland government treatren to put them into government run homes. Nellie Leedie is a cousin of “Sugar” Ray Robinson the renowned Aboriginal activist from Charleville.After dropping out of high school he became a toolmaker with an apprenticeship with Napier Brothers in Dalby. After two years with Napier Brothers in 1974 he moved to Redfern, Sydney. There he associated with and became part of the political movement. Many years later he moved to Toowoomba to work as a Office Manager with the Aboriginal Legal Service. In the 90's in Brisbane he was crafting boomerangs and postcard style prints for the tourism market. 

http://www.daao.org.au/bio/richard-bell/biography/?   

Richard Bell – Masterpiece, 2003

Richard Bell, Now my black people kill! from Psalm singing series, 2007, acrylic on canvas. Featured in Sunshine state smart state, curated by Djon Mundine, at the Campbelltown Arts Centre until 26 August. Courtesy the artist and Bellas Milani Gallery, Brisbane.

I found Richard Bell's work very inspiring, I like the use of the cartoon images made famous by Roy Lichtenstein in the 1960's. The message with each artwork is blunt and scream his views. I feel it shows that he is passionate and his country and culture and wants Australian to see how the Aboriginals are and have been treated.