Vale GORDON BULL, born Lichfield, UK, March 24, 1958; died Canberra, October 14.

The visual arts community has been shocked and saddened by the death on October 14 of art historian, educator and former head of the ANU School of Art, Gordon Bull, after a long battle with cancer. He was 68.

Described by many as a favourite lecturer and supervisor, he led, mentored and inspired students with his passion for art history.

Bull’s encyclopaedic knowledge of art history was matched by his commitment to teaching, which many regarded as his greatest legacy.

Born in Lichfield, England, on March 24, 1958, he grew up in Brownhills, a mining town in the Midlands, where his father was a bricklayer. In 1969, the family emigrated to Australia, settling in Perth.

Bull studied art history and philosophy at the University of Sydney, graduating with a bachelor of arts with first-class honours in fine arts in 1984, followed by a master of arts with first-class honours in 1991. It was at Sydney University, in a film course in fine arts in 1981, that he met his future wife, the curator Deborah Clark.

He began his academic career as a junior tutor in the Power Department of Fine Arts at the University of Sydney in 1984, before lecturing part-time in art history and theory at the then Canberra School of Art in 1986 and 1987.

He then spent three years in the Department of Fine Arts at the University of WA before returning to Canberra in 1991, when he was appointed a lecturer in the Art Theory Workshop at the ANU Canberra School of Art.

From 1996 to 2006, Bull was senior lecturer and head of workshop, becoming head of the ANU School of Art in 2006, a position he held until 2013. He subsequently returned to teaching as a senior lecturer in the Centre for Art History and Art Theory, retiring from the school in 2018.

Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Bull published widely, contributing articles, reviews, academic papers and catalogue essays. But it was his teaching that left the deepest impression. He loved teaching practising artists, and his erudite lectures and supervision changed lives. His courses were hugely popular, particularly Cool Old Masters, Shopping Around and Framing Other Cultures.

A passionate advocate for higher education, Bull was closely involved with the Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools, serving on its national executive from 2009 to 2013, as secretary from 2009 to 2011 and as chair from 2012 to 2013. He also served on the executive of the Art Association of Australia and NZ.

After retiring, Bull remained a familiar presence at gallery openings, seminars and other events on campus. His most recent lecture, on Neil Roberts’ 2000 Bounces for David Watt 6.5.99, was delivered in August as part of the ANU Drill Hall Gallery lecture series.

It attracted a large crowd of well-wishers who recognised that it might be his last public appearance.

My personal recollection of Bull is of a quiet, reflective intellectual, passionately devoted to all areas of the arts. An avid reader and consumer of film and the performing arts as well as the visual arts, he was a true Renaissance man. – Helen Musa

He is survived by his wife, Deborah Clark, and their son, Frazer Bull-Clark. Further details of a memorial will be announced as they become available.

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