{{Short description|Australian artist (1965–2012)}} {{use Australian English|date=April 2020}} {{use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} <!-- Deleted image removed: 556px|thumb|Right|The artist Adam Cullen --> {{Infobox artist | name = Adam Cullen | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Adam Frederick Cullen | birth_date = {{Birth date|1965|10|9|df=y}} | birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|7|28|1965|10|9|df=y}} | death_place = Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, Australia | spouse = | field = | training = | movement = | works = | patrons = Edmund Capon<ref name=srob/> | influenced by = | influenced = | awards = {{awd|Archibald Prize|2000|Portrait of David Wenham}} | elected = | website = | alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|City Art Institute|University of New South Wales}} }}
'''Adam Frederick Cullen''' (9 October 1965 – 28 July 2012) was an Australian artist, most known for winning the Archibald Prize in 2000 with a portrait of actor David Wenham. He was also known for his controversial subjects and his distinctive style, sometimes referred to as "grunge".
He is the subject of the feature film ''Acute Misfortune'' (2019), co-written, directed and produced by Thomas M. Wright, based on journalist Erik Jensen's 2015 biography of the artist, ''Acute Misfortune: The Life and Death of Adam Cullen''.
== Early life == Cullen was born in Sydney on 9 October 1965. He graduated from the City Art Institute (now UNSW Art & Design) with a Diploma of Professional Art in 1987 and received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of New South Wales in 1999.<ref name=Death>{{cite news|last=Frew|first=Wendy|title=Archibald winner Adam Cullen dies aged 47|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/archibald-winner-adam-cullen-dies-aged-47-20120729-2365g.html|access-date=29 July 2012|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=29 July 2012}}</ref>
He was a cousin of the actor and artist Max Cullen.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tributes flow for Archibald winner Adam Cullen who has died at age 47 |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/archibald-winner-adam-cullen-dies-aged-47/news-story/8ec4e5e40114039a29541549c04c6953 |access-date=13 June 2024 |work=news.com.au |publisher=Nationwide News Pty Ltd |date=30 July 2012}}</ref> ==Career== Cullen's home and studio was located at Wentworth Falls, in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales.<ref name=Death/>
Cullen's work was exhibited in solo and group exhibitions both in Australia and internationally. Cullen was well-established as a Sydney "grunge" painter when he won the prestigious Archibald Prize for his portrait of actor David Wenham in 2000. In 2002 he represented Australia at the 25th São Paulo Art Biennial.<ref name=Death/>
==Style and themes==
Cullen often employed the image of infamous and iconic Australian bushranger Ned Kelly in his artwork. He also portrayed the killers of 1986 murder victim Anita Cobby, and illustrated the underworld figure and convicted criminal Mark 'Chopper' Read's fairy tale book called ''Hooky the Cripple''.{{cn|date=April 2020}}
==Reception== He has been described as one of Australia's most collectible contemporary artists.<ref name=Death/> ==Prizes== === Archibald Prize === He entered the Archibald Prize at least nine times, was hung at least eight times, and won once, in 2000. He was a finalist in 1997, 1999, 2001-2004, 2006 (with his painting ''Edmund'', depicting gallery director and art historian Edmund Capon), in 2011 and 2012.{{cn|date=April 2020}}
=== Other prizes and honours === Cullen was exhibited in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize show of 2000-2001 with a portrait of comedian Mikey Robins. He was the winner of the Mosman Art Prize in 2005.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}
==Later life and legacy== In 2011 he was given a suspended jail sentence for drunk-driving and weapons offences. A psychiatric report recommended treatment for bipolar disorder as well as a long-term alcohol rehabilitation program.
He died on 28 July 2012, after having been seriously ill for some time.<ref name=Death/>
Erik Jensen's 2015 biography of Cullen, ''Acute Misfortune: The Life and Death of Adam Cullen'', won the 2015 Nib Literary Award as well as being shortlisted for the Walkley Book Award and the Victorian Premier's Prize for Nonfiction.<ref name=garret>{{cite web | title=Erik Jensen: Bringing writing back to journalism | website=The Garret | date=14 February 2018 | url=https://thegarretpodcast.com/erik-jensen/ | access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=smham>{{cite web | last=Morris | first=Linda | title=Erik Jensen's biography of flawed artist Adam Cullen wins Sydney literary award | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=25 November 2015 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/erik-jensens-biography-of-flawed-artist-adam-cullen-wins-sydney-literary-award-20151124-gl66v0.html | access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=srob>{{cite web|url=http://www.sydneyreviewofbooks.com/acute-misfortune-adam-cullen-erik-jensen/|title=Declivities and eminences|author=Edmond, Martin|work=Sydney Review of Books|publisher=Writing and Society Research Centre at the University of Western Sydney|date=30 September 2014|access-date=10 March 2015}}</ref>
''Acute Misfortune'', directed by Thomas M. Wright, based on Jensen's book, with the screenplay co-written by Wright and Jensen and focussing on Cullen's volatile relationship with his biographer, was released in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adelaidefilmfestival.org/titles/106347/acute-misfortune|title=Acute Misfortune - Adelaide Film Festival|website=adelaidefilmfestival.org|access-date=2018-10-18}}</ref><ref name=acutehome>{{cite web | title=Home | website=Acute Misfortune | url=https://www.acutemisfortune.com/ | access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=monthaward>{{cite web|website=The Monthly|url=https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2018/october/1538316000/monthly-awards-2018/2018|title=The Monthly Awards 2018: Film: 'Terror Nullius' by Soda–Jerk |first=Alexie |last=Glass-Kantor|date=October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413124802/https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2018/october/1538316000/monthly-awards-2018/2018#8|archive-date=13 April 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.thecullen.com.au The Cullen Hotel] *[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/arts/sunmorn/stories/s1316228.htm The Maker: Adam Cullen]
{{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{s-bef|before=Euan MacLeod}} {{s-ttl|title=Archibald Prize|years=2000<br/>for ''Portrait of David Wenham''}} {{s-aft|after=Nicholas Harding}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cullen, Adam}} Category:1965 births Category:2012 deaths Category:Archibald Prize winners Category:University of New South Wales alumni Category:Archibald Prize finalists Category:Australian portrait painters Category:Australian contemporary artists Category:20th-century Australian artists Category:People with bipolar disorder