Whiteley Brett Vedic birth chart profile
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Pisces Lagna

Whiteley Brett

April 7, 1939 · Longueville, New South Wales
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Moon Sign
Libra
Sun Sign
Pisces
Ascendant
Pisces
Nakshatra
Vishakha
Birth Star
Current Dasha · Mars / Rahu / Venus · Jul 2026 – Oct 2026
Vocational awardArtTravel for workGain - Grant, ScholarshipDivorceeLife Path 6Destiny Number 11Soul Number 7
Biography

Who is Whiteley Brett?

Australian avant-garde artist, represented in the collections of all the large Australian galleries, and twice winner of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes. He held many exhibitions, and lived and painted in Australia as well as Italy, England, Fiji and the United States. In November 2020, his painting Henris Armchair, from his iconic Lavender Bay series, broke the Australian record, selling at auction for A$6.136 million. He was a student at the Julian Ashtron School before winning a travelling scholarship to Italy in 1959. In 1961 he was chosen to represent Australia at the UNESCO Young painters Convention in Paris and received wide publicity when he won the international prize at the Paris Biennale. Whiteley returned to Australia in 1961 but by the late 70s, the struggle and tension that had charged his early work had been diverted into his personal life and his battle with heroin became public knowledge. Part of his work Alchemy (1972–1973) was featured on the cover of the Dire Straits live album Alchemy (1984) although it had the addition of a guitar with lips held by a hand. On 16 January 1976, his Self-Portrait in a Studio, where the haunted face of an addict peers from the canvas, won the Archibald Prize, which he won again on 20 January 1978 with Art, Life and the Other Thing, where his hand is caught between a brush and a syringe. He also won the Wynne Prize for landscapes in 1977, 1978 and 1984 and the Sulman Prize in 1976 and 1978. The year 1978 was the only one in which all three prizes have been won simultaneously by the same person. On 15 May 1962, Whiteley married Wendy Julius and they had a daughter, Arkie Whiteley, born in London in 1964, who became an actress. The couple divorced in 1989. On 15 June 1992 at age 53 he was found dead from opiate overdose in a motel room in Thirroul, north of Wollongong. Link to Wikipedia biography
Latest Info

Latest Updates

Update at: Sep 11, 2026

Brett Whiteley (born 7 April 1939, Longueville, New South Wales, Australia)

News

There are no current news items from Brett Whiteley himself, as he passed away in 1992. The ongoing public record consists of posthumous exhibitions, scholarly articles, and retrospective reviews that study his contributions to Australian art. Contemporary galleries and museums occasionally present exhibitions and acquisitions that highlight his legacy and influence on contemporary painting in Australia.

Public profile

  • Name: Brett Whiteley
  • Birth: 7 April 1939, Longueville, New South Wales, Australia
  • Death: 1992, Australia
  • Nationality: Australian
  • Field: Painting, drawing
  • Style: Large-scale, luminous color work; landscapes, portraits, and expressive figure studies; a blend of realism and abstraction with a sensibility for atmosphere and mood
  • Education: Studied at institutions including the Julian Ashton Art School and other regional and urban art programs in Australia; pursued further artistic development in the years ahead
  • Legacy: Widely regarded as one of Australia’s most celebrated and influential painters of the 20th century; his work is held in major Australian galleries and continues to inspire new generations of artists

Social media and online presence

There is no official personal social media account for Brett Whiteley. Contemporary public engagement with his work occurs through museum and gallery channels, academic publications, and approved catalogs. Verified profiles and up-to-date information can be found on major Australian museum sites and gallery pages that feature his work, such as the National Gallery of Australia and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Notable works and style

Whiteley is known for bold, expansive paintings and drawings that explore Australian landscapes, seascapes, and human figures. His works often combine strong, fluid lines with vivid color and a sense of movement and tension. The scale and intensity of his pieces helped redefine aspects of Australian modernism, and his imagery frequently reflects a fusion of natural Australian environments with introspective, psychological themes.

Where to view and learn more

To explore Brett Whiteley’s work, consult major Australian national and state galleries and libraries. Key institutions that regularly feature his pieces or provide scholarly material include:

  • National Gallery of Australia
  • Art Gallery of New South Wales
  • Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
  • Australian national and regional art libraries and catalogues

Past and posthumous projects

Since his death, Brett Whiteley’s work has been the subject of retrospectives, critical studies, and catalogue raisonnés produced by major Australian museums and art institutions. These efforts aim to archive, contextualize, and reintroduce his contributions to new audiences while preserving the integrity of his artistic practice.

Which Raj Yogas are in Whiteley Brett's birth chart?

3 FOUND

Whiteley Brett's chart shows 1 Raj Yoga and 2 challenging combinations, including Budhaditya Yoga-Weak.

Planetary Combinations

Which dasha is Whiteley Brett running now?

VIMSHOTTARI

Whiteley Brett is currently in the Mars mahadasha, running from Jul 30, 2026 to Oct 3, 2026.

PREVIOUSJul 8, 2026 - Jul 30, 2026
Mars / Rahu / Ketu
NOWJul 30, 2026 - Oct 3, 2026
Mars / Rahu / Venus
NEXTOct 3, 2026 - Oct 22, 2026
Mars / Rahu / Sun

What do Whiteley Brett's numerology numbers say?

Whiteley Brett's core numbers are Life Path 6, Destiny 11, Soul Urge 7, Personality 4, Kabbalah Number 1, Master Number 33, Birth 7.

Life Path
6

Chaldean Life Path 6 is Venus-led—care, harmony, and responsibility. It indicates fulfillment through relationships, service, beauty, and home balance.

Destiny
11

Chaldean Destiny 11 indicates inspired expression and intuitive leadership. It supports visionary guidance, teaching, and spiritual creativity when grounded.

Soul Urge
7

Chaldean Soul 7 desires truth and depth. It seeks learning, solitude, spiritual growth, and refined understanding.

Personality
4

Chaldean Personality 4 appears practical, reliable, and disciplined. Others often see consistency, structure, and hard work.

Kabbalah Number
1

Kabbalah Number 1 reflects an inner spiritual code of initiative and self-direction. It supports willpower, clarity, and a strong identity path.

Master Number
33

Master Number 33 in Chaldean numerology amplifies compassion, healing, and teaching. It supports upliftment through service and mature love.

Birth
7

Explore Birth Number 7 in Vedic astrology: discover personality traits, destiny, career inclinations, relationships, and remedies to balance karmic energy.

Life Events & Planetary Transits

Key events mapped against the active Dasha and planetary transits at the time.

1959
Financial
Gain significant money 1959 (Won a travelling scholarship to Italy)
1961
Career
Published/ Exhibited/ Released 1961 (Represented Australia at UNESCO)
1962
Relationship
Marriage 15 May 1962 (Wendy Julius)
1976
Career
Prize 1976 (Won the Sulman Prize)
1976
Career
Published/ Exhibited/ Released 16 January 1976 (Painted "Self-Portrait in a Studio")
1977
Career
Prize 1977 (Won the Wynne Award)
1978
Career
Prize 1978 (Won the Wynne Award)
1978
Career
Prize 1978 (Won the Sulman Prize)
1978
Career
Prize 20 January 1978 (Awarded second Archibald Prize)
1984
Career
Prize 1984 (Won the Wynne Award)
1992
Death
Other Death 15 June 1992 (Heroin overdose, age 53)
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this profile's Vedic astrology, birth chart, and numerology — answered by our astrologers.

What does Whiteley Brett's life path number reveal about his soul's journey?

Whiteley Brett carries life path number 33, a master number representing the master teacher and healer archetype. This rare vibration indicates a soul called to uplift humanity through creative expression and spiritual wisdom. The number 33 channels compassion, artistic vision, and the desire to leave a lasting legacy, which aligns deeply with Brett's achievements as a celebrated painter and his pursuit of excellence across multiple prestigious awards.

How do Whiteley Brett's astrological placements shape his core strengths and character?

Whiteley Brett is a Pisces sun with a Libra moon, combining imaginative, intuitive artistry with refined aesthetic sensibility and diplomatic grace. His Pisces sun grants him visionary creative power and spiritual sensitivity, while his Libra moon enhances his ability to balance form, beauty, and harmony in his work. Together, these signs reveal a deeply artistic soul driven by the pursuit of perfect expression and meaningful connection through visual storytelling.

How does Whiteley Brett's Pisces ascendant influence the way the world perceives him?

Whiteley Brett's Pisces ascendant projects an image of sensitivity, mystery, and artistic depth to the world. This water sign lagna creates a dreamy, introspective public presence that draws others into his imaginative realm. People encounter him as a visionary and intuitive creator, someone whose outer appearance and demeanor reflect the fluidity and emotional intelligence characteristic of his inner spiritual nature and artistic vision.

Which astrological configurations in Whiteley Brett's chart explain his recognition and artistic success?

Whiteley Brett's chart contains powerful yogas driving his acclaim: a Pisces sun positioned for creative mastery, combined with his Libra moon's aesthetic refinement. However, the Karkotaka Kal Sarpa Yoga and Grahan Dosha present karmic intensities that shaped both his brilliance and inner turmoil. His multiple prestigious awards, including the Wynne Award and Sulman Prize, reflect the chart's capacity for excellence, though the nodal placements indicate a soul navigating profound spiritual and psychological challenges alongside his outer achievements.

What insights does astrology offer about Whiteley Brett's marriage and relational patterns?

Whiteley Brett married Wendy Julius in 1962, a union that reflects his Libra moon's desire for partnership and balance. However, his chart's Grahan Dosha and Karkotaka Kal Sarpa Yoga suggest deep emotional complexities and karmic patterns affecting intimate relationships. These placements indicate a soul wrestling with inner instability beneath an outer charm, creating tension between his need for connection and internal struggles that ultimately tested the bonds he formed.

What does Whiteley Brett's birth chart suggest about his deeper life purpose and spiritual direction?

Whiteley Brett's chart reveals a soul called to transform pain into beauty and communicate transcendent truths through art. His Pisces sun and ascendant point to a spiritual seeker and healer archetype, while his life path 33 master number emphasizes teaching and uplifting others. However, the Karkotaka Kal Sarpa Yoga and Grahan Dosha indicate his purpose involved wrestling with darkness and addiction, suggesting his true spiritual work lay in confronting the shadow side of human consciousness and transmuting suffering into creative expression.

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