‘Sometimes people come up to me and say, “I'm an artist now and it's all your fault!”’ said Mirka in 2008.
1 Mirka and Philippe - 9 Collins Street, c. 1966 (printed 2015) Lazar Krum. 2 Portrait of Georges Mora, 1956 Charles Blackman OBE. © Charles Blackman/Copyright Agency, 2024. 3 Mirka Mora, 1983 Andrew Sibley. © Andrew Sibley/Copyright Agency, 2024.
Holocaust survivors Georges and Mirka Mora left Paris and immigrated to Melbourne in 1951. They brought with them their enthusiastic, bohemian, European perspective on life, underpinned by a passionate recognition of the importance of creativity – especially through the arts and food – in building a healthy, happy living and working environment. With the establishment of cafes, restaurants, and ultimately galleries, the Moras introduced a new cultural sensibility to their adopted city, giving Melburnians – particularly artists and art lovers – places to go, to socialise and to belong. Melbourne’s artistic community embraced the couple and all that they offered. The 1956 portrait of Georges by Charles Blackman and 1983 portrait of Mirka by Andrew Sibley are just two expressions of the abiding love and respect felt for the marvellous Moras by their friends, over many years.
