Yvonne Boyd

Yvonne Boyd (born Yvonne Harland Lennie) (5 July 1920 – 12 November 2013) was an artist, art patron, philanthropist, and a member of the Boyd artistic dynasty.

Early life Born to John Lennie and Edna (Harland) Lennie, Yvonne was a talented student, educated in the private system. She went on to study at the Royal Academy (now known as the Victorian College of the Arts), and became a talented painter, winning art prizes for her drawing.

Two early works, Melbourne Tram 1944 and In Kensington c1944 reflect social realism, showing people who are disadvantaged in society.

In November 1950 Yvonne and fellow artist John Yule held the first exhibition of the Aladdin Gallery, on the corner of Glenferrie Road and Christobel Crescent, Hawthorn. The gallery comprised a large room and a hallway in the home of Mrs Elsie Smith and her son, Martin, and aimed to address the shortage of galleries, and also to provide housewives of the district with a local gallery. The exhibition included Christmas cards, paintings and pottery.

In January 1954, decorative tiles with handpainted Aboriginal designs painted by Yvonne were being sold at Peter Bray's in Bourke Street, Melbourne for 15/- each.

The focus of Yvonne's work gradually moved from pursuing her own artistic career to supporting Arthur's. Yvonne became Arthur's informal business manager, in her words, "working behind the scenes",