40 Acquisitions for 40 Years
With an upcoming birthday this October, we share 40 acquisitions to celebrate 40 years of building a national collection.
Four decades since the doors opened to the world, acquiring for the permanent collection and the people of Australia remains top priority for the National Gallery. The Gallery kicks off our 40th Anniversary celebrations by sharing 40 acquisitions.
From local custodians Dr Matilda and Paul Girrawah House’s traditional tree scarring throughout the Sculpture Garden to a suite of 126 photographs by renowned American photographer Nan Goldin – the Gallery shares works by 40 artists and collectives from here and across the globe.
ALFREDO AQUILIZAN & ISABEL AQUILIZAN
Wings Baanan Series #8, 2021
Isabel Aquilizan and Alfredo Aquilizan, Wings Baanan Series #8 [wing] (installation view), 2021, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022, image courtesy Simon Hewson © Courtesy of the Artists and Yavuz Gallery
MICHAEL ARMITAGE
Enasoit 2019
Michael Armitage, Enasoit, 2019, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Michael Armitage, Courtesy of the Artist
MATTHEW BARNEY
Basin Creek burn, 2018
Matthew Barney, Basin Creek Burn (installation view), 2018, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in 2021 in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Matthew Barney, courtesy Sadie Coles HQ, London Matthew Barney. Courtesy of the artist; Sadie Coles HQ, London; and Gladstone Gallery, New York
JAMES BARTH
Adumbral placeholder, 2021
James Barth, Adumbral placeholder (detail), 2021, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © James Barth
DEL KATHRYN BARTON
my heart is blazing 11 hours 2021
Del Kathryn Barton, my heart is blazing 11 hours (detail), 2021, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Del Kathryn Barton
RICHARD BELL
Kamilaroi/Kooma/ Jiman/Gurang Gurang peoples
From little things big things grow, 2019-20
Richard Bell, Kamilaroi/Kooma/Jiman/Gurang Gurang peoples, From little things big things grow (detail), 2019-20, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Richard Bell
DORRIT BLACK
Backs of houses, Veere, c. 1929
Dorrit Black, Backs of houses, Veere, c.1929, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022
CRESSIDA CAMPBELL
Bedroom nocturne, 2022
Cressida Campbell, Bedroom nocturne, 2022, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra purchased with the assistance of the Gordon Darling Australia Pacific Print Fund in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia’s 40th anniversary, 2022 © Cressida Campbell
KUNMANARA CARROLL
Ilpili, Walungurru, Kiwirrkura, and Yumari, 2021
Kunmanara Carroll, Luritja and Pintupi peoples, Yumari, Walungurru, and Walungurru, 2021, commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra for the 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony with the support of Suzanne Maple-Brown and Anthony Maple-Brown, purchased 2021, image courtesy the Estate of Kunmanara Carroll and Ernabella Arts © the Estate of Kunmanara Carroll
MARY CASSATT
The fitting, 1890-91
Mary Cassatt, The fitting (detail), 1890-91, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased with the assistance of the Poynton Bequest 2021 in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary held in 2022
RUSSELL DRYSDALE
Studio still life, c. 1937
Russell Drysdale, Studio still life (detail), c. 1937, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Estate of Russell Drysdale
TRACEY EMIN
When I sleep, 2018
Tracey Emin, When I sleep, 2018, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in 2021 in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Tracey Emin/Copyright Agency, 2022
IAN FAIRWEATHER
Market scene, Peking, 1935
Ian Fairweather, Market scene, Peking (detail), 1935, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, gift of Trevor Bail in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary 2022, donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program © Ian Fairweather. DACS/Copyright Agency, 2022
HELEN GANALMIRRIWUY GARRAWURRA
Gurrumaṯtji, 2021
Helen Ganalmirriwuy Garrawurra, Gurrumaṯtji, 2021, installation view, 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony
TEELAH GEORGE
Sky piece, falling (Melbourne, Perth), 2020-21
Teelah George, Sky piece, falling (Melbourne, Perth) (installation view), 2020-2021, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022, image supplied by ofcourtesy Neon Parc © Teelah George
NAN GOLDIN
The ballard of sexual dependency series, 1973-1986
Nan Goldin, Mark tattooing Mark, Boston, 1978, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Nan Goldin
DR MATILDA HOUSE & PAUL GIRRAWAH HOUSE
Mulanggari yur-wang (alive and strong), 2020
Dr Matilda House and Paul Girrawah House, Ngambri (Walgalu) – Wallaballooa (Ngunnawal) – Pajong (Gundungurra) – Wiradjuri (Erambie) peoples, Mulanggari yur-wang (alive and strong), 2021–22, commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia, Ngambri/Kamberri/Canberra for the 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony, purchased 2021, image courtesy and © the artists
NATALYA HUGHES
Woman 6 (Harmony), 2019
Natalya Hughes, Woman 6 (Harmony), 2019, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022. © Natalya Hughes
JUZ KITSON
Charred urn, a lament for the wildfires, 2021
Juz Kitson, Charred urn, a lament for the wildfires no 2, 2021, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, gift of the artist 2022, donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program © Juz Kiston
EMILY KAME KNGWARREYE
Untitled (awalye), 1994
Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Untitled (awelye), 1994, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2022 in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, with the assistance of the Foundation Gala Dinner Fund 2021 © Emily Kame Kngwarreye/Copyright Agency, 2022
Rosemary Laing,
Where to from here #2, 2019
Rosemary Laing, Where to from here #2 from the series skyground, 2019, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, gift of the artist in memory of Bernard Laing 2021 in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary held in 2022, donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program © Rosemary Laing
GRACE LILLIAN LEE
Future woven floral forms (natural and red), 2020
Grace Lillian Lee, Meriam Mir people, Future Woven Floral Forms (detail), 2020, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Grace Lillian Lee
LINDY LEE
Ouroboros, 2024
Lindy Lee, Ouroboros, 2024, (artist's interpretation), courtesy the artist, UAP and Sullivan+Strumpf, © Lindy Lee
DR CAROL MCGREGOR
Wreath for Oodgeroo, 2020
Dr Carol McGregor, Wadawurrung people, Wreath for Oodgeroo, 2020, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Carol McGregor
DHAMBIT MUNUNGGURR
Djulpan, 2020
Dhambit Mununggurr, Gumatj people, Djulpan (detail), 2020, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022, image courtesy ofand © the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.
VINCENT NAMATJIRA 0AM
Vincent's Vision - Seeing through my eyes, 2021
Vincent Namatjira, Western Arrarnta people, Vincent's vision - Seeing through my eyes, 2021, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022
MANTUA NANGALA
Untitled, 2021
Mantua Nangala, Pintupi people, Untitled (detail), 2021, commissioned by the National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra for the 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony with the support of Sue Dyer and Steve Dyer, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2021, image courtesy the artist and Papunya Tula Artists © the artist and | Aboriginal Artists Agency Ltd
NUKUMA PEOPLE
Minja, 1900-1950
Paip, Minja (personal name Mungi), National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022, donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program in memory of Eric and Evarne Coote and in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary © the artist
BEN QUILTY
Myall Creek Rorschach, 2019
Ben Quilty, Myall Creek Rorschach, 2019, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, gift of the artist 2021, donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Ben Quilty
JUDE RAE
Waterloo II (#449), 2021
Jude Rae, Waterloo II (#449) (detail), 2021, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Jude Rae
JEFFREY SMART
Near Knossos, 1973
Jeffrey Smart, Near Knossos, 1973, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia’s 40th anniversary, 2022, © The Estate of Jeffrey Smart
KIKI SMITH
Earth, Underground & Sky, 2012
Kiki Smith, Sky (detail), 2012, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Kiki Smith, courtesy Pace Gallery
ETHEL SPOWERS
Melbourne, 1930
Ethel Spowers, Melbourne, 1930, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, acquired with the generous assistance of John Keats, great nephew of the artist, and Paul Evans in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022
AIDA TOMESCU
A long line of sand III, 2021
Aida Tomescu, A long line of sand III (detail), 2021, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, gift of Rowena Danziger, in memory of Ken Coles AM, in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Aida Tomescu. Licensed by Copyright Agency, 2022
BARBARA TRIBE
Eve (Female torso, Thailand), 1971
Barbara Tribe, Eve (Female torso, Thailand) (detail), 1971, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, gift of Bettina Dalton in memory of John Schaefer AO2 021 in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary held in 2022, donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program © Barbara Tribe Foundation
KARA WALKER
Your world is about to change, 2019
Kara Walker, Your World is About to Change, 2019, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased with the assistance of the Poynton Bequest in celebration of the National Gallery of Australia's 40th anniversary, 2022 © Kara Walker
JUSTENE WILLIAMS
Victory over the Sun, 2016
Justene Williams, Strong Woman from Victory over the Sun (performance documentation), 2016, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2021 © Justene Williams. Image courtesy of the artist and Sarah Cottier Gallery, Gadigal Nura/Sydney
JORDAN WOLFSON
Body Sculpture, 2023
Jordan Wolfson, Colored sculpture (installation view), 2016, image courtesy of the artist, David Zwirner Gallery and Sadie Coles HQ © Jordan Wolfson, photograph: Dan Bradic
This story has been published as part of the National Gallery's 40th Anniversary. For more visit 40 Years.
Art & Artists
Referenced
From little things big things grow
2019-2020
The fitting
1890-91
Sky Piece, falling (Melbourne, Perth)
2020 - 2021
Charred urn, a lament for the wildfires no 2
2021
Future Woven Floral Forms
2020
Untitled
2021
Waterloo II (#449)
2021
Your World is About to Change
2019
Born 1960
1844-1926
Born 1953
1910-1996
Born 1983
Born 1959
1921-2013
Born 1969
