J. Christie Wright

John Christie Wright (22 August 1889 – 2 May 1917), generally referred to as J. Christie Wright, was a Scottish-born Australian sculptor.

John Christie Wright was born in Aberdeen and was educated in Aberdeen at Robert Gordon's Technical College (now known asRobert Gordon's College) and then theGrays School of Art from 1907 to 1911, where he studied painting and sculpture under William Banbury and Harold T. Hughes, during which time he won the ₤50 Byrne scholarship.

The Robert Gordon's College and Gray's School of Art Central Institution General Register(Session 1904–1905) indicates that in the First Year Lithographers’& Engravers’ Course he was an exceptional student, achieving a 1st Grade in Drawing with marks of 97 (Examination); 96 (Laboratory Work), and; 99 (Class & Oral Work).

He was later awarded the Scottish national diploma in sculpture by Sir George Frampton, (the only one won that year). He studied modelling and architecture under Beresford Pite at the Royal College of Art in London then emigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in May 1912, and was appointed the first lecturer in art at the Teachers' College of Sydney University.

He created a large-scale model of Sydney's new Zoological Gardens then he was engaged by G. H. Godsell of the architectural firm Robertson and Marks to create reliefs for the facade of the Daily Telegraph (now known as 'The Trust Building' which is located at 72-72A Castlereagh Street, Sydney). and that of the Perpetual Trustee Company, which is located at Hunter Street, Sydney. The Telegraph works were the bronzes Commerce and Knowledge and the fine Arts and stone figures Justice and Truth. The statue Perpetuity for the Perpetual Trustee Company won for him the Wynne Prize in 1915 (an annual Australian prize for "the best landscape painting of Australian scenery in oils or watercolours or for the best example of figure sculpture by Australian artists completed during the 12 months preceding the [closing] date").

He designed medals for the (Sydney) Society of Artists to commemorate the landing of Australian troops at Gallipoli on 23 April 1915.

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