The Collection

Sue Dunkley was a British painter whose vivid, large-scale works blend personal narrative with cultural critique, addressing themes of celebrity, violence, sexuality, and the role of women in changing eras. Born in Leicester to publican parents, she studied at Bath Academy of Art (1959–61), Chelsea School of Art (1961–63), and the Slade School of Fine Art (1963–65), where she was awarded scholarships to travel in Australia and Italy.

Emerging in the 1960s amid the energy of London’s “swinging” art scene, Dunkley took as her subjects contemporary icons such as John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, as well as the female body under the scrutiny of the male gaze. Her autobiographical practice grew more charged in the 1970s following her divorce, as she explored the complexities of being an artist, mother, and woman navigating a shifting social landscape. Brightly colored, Pop-inflected surfaces contrast with the darker psychological undercurrents of her imagery, creating a haunting sense of tension and melancholy.