An Artist in the Army; Guy Warren on Bougainville 1944-45 is a temporary exhibition featuring sketches and photographs created by Guy Warren during his military service in Bougainville between October 1944 and the Japanese surrender in 1945.

Guy joined the Australian army at the age of 19 and was transferred into the AIF at 21. He was later stationed in New Guinea and Bougainville Island during the Second World War. When he returned after the war, he trained at the National Art School and his war-time experiences became a constant theme in his work.

With more than 60 solo exhibitions and numerous awards, including the Archibald Prize, Guy’s works are featured in collections across the globe. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1999 and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2013 for "significant service to the visual arts as a painter, teacher, mentor and competition judge".

An Artist in the Army; Guy Warren on Bougainville 1944-45 is a celebration of his art and military service.

Guy Warren sadly passed away on Friday 14 June, and this exhibition honours his legacy as a veteran and an artist.

The exhibition is located in the Memorial’s Auditorium on Lower Ground level. The Memorial is open every day, 9am to 5pm. Please note that access to the exhibition is dependent on the Auditorium’s availability, so we encourage you to call the Memorial in advance on (02) 8262 2900.

Entry is free.

Exhibition Launch

An Artist in the Army; Guy Warren on Bougainville 1944-45 was opened with a special event on 20 May 2024. Minister for Veterans, the Hon. David Harris MP, and Guy Warren were in attendance. Photographs from the launch are available below.