PRO HART
Pro Hart is one of Australia’s most popular and controversial artists. Born Kevin Charles Hart in Broken Hill, NSW on the 30th May 1928, his early years were spent on the family sheep property “Larloona Station”, near Menindee, NSW. Pro Hart’s early education was by correspondence school with his mother being tutor to both Pro and his brother Bob. He was always able to sketch and paint, and at the age of seven years Pro started to illustrate his school essays – often in preference to writing them. Purely self-taught with no formal art training, the Pro Hart Australian style began to emerge.

In 1962 a gallery director in Adelaide, South Australia discovered him. As a result of his first exhibition the Pro Hart legend was born. Since that time Pro has developed a highly individualistic semi-primitive style, depicting scenes typical of the Australian outback. As well as landscapes, he has completed studies of insects, miners at work, people who live in the remote areas near Broken Hill, and the timeless beauty of great Australian beaches. Working in oils and water colours with both brush and pallet knife, and using vivid colours true to the harshness of the outback, his paintings have won world acclaim.

Pro has many achievements to add to his successes. In 1976 he was awarded an MBE for his services to art in Australia. In 1982 he received an Honorary Life Membership of Society International Artistique for outstanding artistic achievement. This award is granted to only one artist per continent. In 1983 he received an Australian Citizen of the Year Award.
Pro’s paintings now hang in the National Gallery, Canberra, various State galleries in Australia, the Mertz Collection and the White House Collection in the U.S.A., Buckingham Palace, London, as well as private collections all over the world.
Pro Hart Galley houses one of the largest private collections in Australia. The gallery features both Australian and European masters. It also houses many collections, such as baby rattles, baccarat paperweights, Chines Ming, old silver and perfume bottles and many sculptures. Also housed in his gallery is a Rodgers Electronic Pipe Organ – the largest of its type in Australia.
Pro is also a sculptor. He began sculpting in the 1960’s using ceramics, bronze and silver before discovering steel, which he considers to be his best medium. Many of Pro’s sculptures can be found in and around Broken Hill town. Pro’s latest venture is working with etchings and silk screens. These are proving to be very popular items in addition to his original paintings.
Pro Hart married Raylee June Tonkin in 1960. He has five children, three boys and two girls who are all talented artists. In the year 2000 Pro decided to encrypt all of his paintings with a DNA solution giving verification of authenticity. He also chose only one gallery in each state of Australia to be his exclusive agent. David Hart Galleries was selected to become his authorised Queensland agent and has continued every year to be one of his best selling galleries.
Pro was diagnosed in December 2005 with Motor Neurone Disease which is a progressive fatal condition that causes muscles to weaken and waste.
On Tuesday, 28 March 2006, Pro Hart passed away peacefully in his home town of Broken Hill at the age of 77. Pro was given a State Funeral and it was evident that he was truly a remarkable Australian, loved and remembered for his contribution to the Australian art scene and to the community.