John Coburn is known for his abstract paintings and textile works filled with dynamic shapes and rich colors. Referencing biomorphic forms, his art reflects his admiration for modernist masters such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and Henri Matisse. Initially trained as a graphic designer, Coburn gained recognition working as a tapestry artist in a workshop in Aubusson, near Paris, in the late 1960s. His textile creations have adorned the interiors of notable landmarks, from the Sydney Opera House to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Coburn developed his abstract painting style in the 1970s, drawing inspiration from Aboriginal spirituality as well as European art history.