Indigenous Australian art tours Queensland

Experience more than 60 contemporary and historical works from the Gallery’s Indigenous Australian Art collection when the exhibition ‘I, Object’ tours to six Queensland venues — Rockhampton, Caboolture, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Cairns, and Mackay. ‘I, Object’ features contemporary painting, sculpture, and installation by leading Queensland artists Vernon Ah Kee (neither pride nor courage 2006 illustrated), Tony…

The inaugural QAGOMA Reconciliation Action Plan

QAGOMA invited artist Tony Albert, whose connection to the Gallery spans more than two decades, to speak at the recent launch of Gallery’s first Reconciliation Action Plan. The following is the edited transcript of his speech, which both moved and entertained those in attendance. On the occasion of the inaugural QAGOMA Reconciliation Action Plan My…

Sorry is just a word if it’s not backed up by real outcomes

On the 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly separated from their families and communities. The date is significant because on that day in 1997 the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in the Australian Parliament, an inquiry into government policies and practices where children…

Tony Albert gives familiar objects a new voice

Tony Albert has obsessively collected what he calls ‘Aboriginalia’ since his childhood. His artistic practice involves collaborating, repurposing and reimagining popular culture paraphernalia, social and political movements, in order to tell the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Recognisable to an Australian society of the not-so-distant past, and drawn from the trinket cabinets of…

Tony Albert: Visible

Contemporary Australian artist Tony Albert’s exhibition ‘Visible’ not only showcased major works from the last 15 years, it also included new work not previously exhibited. The title of the exhibition speaks to one of Albert’s often used quotes ‘Invisible is my favourite colour’, a response which frames the exhibition. In Albert’s practice, he explores representations…

Helen Johnson, Australia b.1979 / Women’s work (1902) 2017 and Women’s work (1912) 2017

The power of a Collective and the power of a vote

Future Collective member Belinda Elderton reports on the art, the tough decisions, and the collective camaraderie of the group’s recent project pitch event At a time when the marriage equality survey is causing the Australian people to question the value of their vote, the QAGOMA Future Collective members demonstrated the uplifting power of democracy at our annual…