Since he sold his first painting to the National Gallery of Victoria in 1956 he has established himself as a major force on the national art scene. With a simple brush stroke or pastel line he creates intense emotion in the expressions of his subjects.

No two Dickerson's are alike. There is always more behind the faces. The grim judge, the hopeful jockey, the wistful gaze of the ballerina or the loving stare of the mother with child cradled in her arms are some of the various subjects that intrigue their audience. There is a mystery or an unfinished tale in every work. His is a sophisticated art that engages the viewer in conversation. You never walk past a Dickerson. You walk into it and stop and think. Long after you've left the image behind the expressions haunt you. What is she thinking? What lies behind those vivid eyes? A Dickerson work creates questions and demands answers. Maybe this explains why after 30 years of faces and places Robert is one of Australia's most highly sought after artists. He has never felt inspired to paint myths or legends preferring to paint "real" subjects of people in the working world. The lonely figure in the empty street, the woman caressing a cat and the oriental beauty poised in a theatrical pose are images from everyday life across cultures. They are universal. Behind every face is a soul. Inspired by artists such Manet, Degas, Picasso, Monet, Daumier and Goya, Dickerson joins the list of artists whose impact on the society of their day ensures that they are written into the art history books for all time.

Robert Dickerson's first exhibition was at the Museum of Modem Art, Melbourne in 1956. This was followed by numerous solo exhibitions at leading galleries in all states around Australia. His work has been represented in overseas exhibitions and galleries including the Whitechapel, Tate, Qantas and England & Co Galleries in London, The Australian Painters Mertz Collection Corcoran Gallery Washington D.C. USA, Austin University Texas, The Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil and the De Koepelkirker, Amsterdam.

Mertz Collection USA

Huntington Gallery

University of Texas

Art Gallery of New South Wales

National Gallery of Victoria

Queensland Art Gallery

Art Gallery of South Australia

Art Gallery of Western Australia

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

Museum of Modern Art and Design Melbourne

Australian National University

University of Melbourne

University of Western Australia

State and Regional Galleries

Corporate and private collections In Australia and overseas.

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Smith B Australian Painting 1799-1970 Oxford University Press 1974

Thomas L The Most Noble Art of Them All University of Queensland Press 1976