Salvatore Zofrea James Strong

“Self-contained, thoughtful, organised, articulate, with a very clear vision of what he wants to achieve,” says Salvatore Zofrea, reflecting on the qualities of James Strong, chief executive of Qantas. “As a painter, I found it extremely challenging to capture these qualities on canvas.”

“During our sittings, talking with James, I learnt more about him – the active interest he takes in the arts and his amazing stamina and commitment to the adventure sports he enjoys. To all these activities, James brings a strength of mind and a keenness of judgement and I think this is why he has made a success of what he set out to achieve.”

Born in Borgia, Italy in 1946, Zofrea arrived in Australia in 1956. He studied at the Julian Ashton School in the 1960s before travelling and studying in Europe and the UK. He began exhibiting here in 1967, and has been hung many times in the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes, winning the latter award in 1977, 1979 and 1982.