James Mollison AO (1931–2020), founding director of the National Gallery of Australia, later director of the National Gallery of Victoria, and a major donor to art institutions around Australia, including QAGOMA, passed away in January. He leaves a singular legacy as a professional art museum director who, over the course of the modern era, shaped…
QAGOMA acknowledges the loss of greatly respected Brisbane artist, Madonna Staunton. Known principally for her delicate collages and small contemplative of works on paper, Madonna established her reputation during the 1970s and worked right up to late 2019 even in ailing health. Staunton’s indomitable and generous spirit had a remarkable capacity to change and…
Renowned Australian potter and educator Milton Moon AM (1926-2019) passed away in September. Born in Melbourne, Moon was introduced to clay in Brisbane through his friends Mervyn Feeney and Harry Memmott at the Sandison’s Pottery in Annerley, and began his 60-year career as a professional ceramicist. In 1959, he held his first solo exhibition of…
QAGOMA pays tribute to Brisbane painter Gordon Shepherdson (1934–2019) who passed away in July – an enduring presence in the local art community over many decades, Shepherdson was known for his unique approach to expressionist figuration. People, flowers, animals, the night sky and his favourite fishing spots – he painted them from memory with both…
We are deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (1924–2019) on Saturday 20 April. Over a career of six decades, Farmanfarmaian created art that was at once radical and deeply invested in tradition. She drew from Iranian architecture, the traditions of Islamic geometry and pattern, as well as techniques such…
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing on 3 March of the much-loved artist, organiser and mentor to many, Lee Wen (1957-2019). A central figure in Singaporean contemporary art for three decades, Lee contributed the performance Journey of a yellow man no. 13: Fragmented bodies/shifting ground 1999 to ‘The 3rd Asia Pacific Triennial of…