When Robert MacPherson AM died, on 12 November 2021, aged 84, Australia lost one of the most important artists of his generation. What made his contribution so remarkable was the way in which he translated the arcane languages and modes of contemporary art, particularly those of conceptualism and minimalism, into images and objects that formed…
The sad announcement of the passing of Mervyn Moriarty (1937–2021), one of Australian art’s national treasures, in November, was felt by many Queenslanders. A genuine pioneer and generous spirit, Moriarty passionately believed that art education had the potential to change lives — that it was a fundamental human right, no matter in which far-flung corner…
With great sadness, we acknowledge the recent passing of Kumantye (Michael Nelson) Jagamara OAM (b.c.1946-2020). One of the foremost champions of the Western Desert painting movement, Kumantye was a dynamic innovator of Papunya’s second wave of painters, known for creating evocative newforms to portray his ancestral inheritance, He was also a deeply respected Warlpiri/Luritja Elder…
The Gallery pays tribute to the life and work of Australian artist John Nixon (1949-2020), who passed away in August in Melbourne. Renowned for his non-objective paintings and constructions, Nixon’s extensive output included music, photography, film, collage, print-making and publishing. In his paintings, he brought abstract and conceptual art together by combining the monochrome and…
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…