Cyril Gibbs was born in 1906 at Yackandandah, Victoria. He graduated from the Ballarat School of Mines and Industries in 1929 and taught part time at the Swinburne Technical College, Melbourne, from 1929 to 1931. Gibbs taught in Sydney for three years before moving to Brisbane in 1934 where, in 1936, he set up a commercial art studio. He took over from F.J. Martyn Roberts as the second Head of the Art School, Central Technical College, in 1938, and acted in this position until his retirement in 1971, when the institution became the College of Art, Morningside. Gibbs taught several generations of Queensland art students during this time including Marion Finlayson, Shirley Miller and Roy Paget.

Gibbs was involved in many aspects of arts administration apart from his teaching role. He was a Trustee of the Queensland National Art Gallery from 1946 to 1959, overseeing the appointment of its first Director in 1949, and acted as a member of the Art Advisory Committee for ten years. He regarded the 1946 acquisition of E. Phillips Fox 's major canvas, Bathing hour , with special pride as it was his direct responsibility.

Gibbs lectured in art subjects for the Board of Adult Education for 20 years, was a Vice-President of the Queensland Art Teacher’s Association, a life member of the Art Lecturers’ Association, and a member of the Art Advisory Sub- committee to the Queensland Board of Post Primary Studies for three years. Gibbs was also the Queensland Department of Education representative at UNESCO seminars in Melbourne, 1954; Canberra, 1963; and Melbourne, 1967 and was the Australian Representative at the Accademia di Belle Arti, Perugia, in 1964.

Gibbs was awarded the Coronation Medal for his services to art in 1953, elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London, in 1964, awarded a certificate in art and culture from the University of Perugia, Italy, also in 1964, and was awarded an honorary Bachelor of Arts from the College of Art, Brisbane, the year before his death.

Gibbs was awarded watercolour prizes at the Royal National Association and Industrial Association from 1959 to 1961 and subsequently acted as judge for the prize for many years. He received the Caltex Warana prize for watercolour in 1962 and exhibited with the Redcliffe Art Contest in 1960, 1961 and 1965, being awarded the prize in the latter most year. Gibbs’s work was also included in numerous other group exhibitions such as the H.C. Richards Memorial Prize, 1959 and 1962, and the Caltex Centenary Prize in 1959. He exhibited with the Half Dozen Group of Artists and was Vice-Patron of that society 1984-92. A solo exhibition of his work was held at the Moreton Galleries, Brisbane, in 1949 and an exhibition of 'Paintings from the estate of Cyril Gibbs (1906-92)’ was held at Philip Bacon Galleries, Brisbane, just after his death in 1992.

Research Curator, Queensland Heritage, Queensland Art Gallery

Writers:

Cooke, Glenn R.

Date written:

2008

Last updated:

2011