Skip to main content
Skip to footer Skip to Acknowledgement of Country
National Gallery of Australia
What's On Art & Artists Visit
Login
  1. Home
  2. Visit
  3. Research Library & Archives
  4. Archives and Special Collections
  5. Artist Interviews

Artist Interviews

Overview of the Gallery space with three women being interviewed.

Surrealist Painting of woman figure between block shapes

James Gleeson, The attitude of lightning towards a lady-mountain, 1939, purchased with the assistance of James Agapitos OAM and Ray Wilson OAM 2007

MS 23 James Gleeson Oral History collection

In the late 1970s Dr James Gleeson AO, Australia’s leading surrealist painter, interviewed 98 Australian artists in their studios to discuss their works that the National Gallery acquired. As an artist, curator, writer and administrator, Gleeson brought a unique perspective to these conversations. The recorded interviews form the basis of a significant resource on Australian visual arts.

The James Gleeson Oral History Collection has been inscribed into the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Register 2008 as being of significant Australian cultural heritage.

The recordings are accompanied by 2000 reference photographs of the artworks and transcripts of the interviews. Because of the fragility of the media, the interviews have been migrated to digital files to ensure the preservation of the material and to increase access to it.

MORE
A group of five people in the centre of a gallery space hold a large sheet as they install a large hanging mobile from the ceiling

Women Abstract artists – the Lara Nicholls interviews

Interviews with Australian women abstract artists were recorded by the National Gallery in 2016 and 2017 as part of the preparation for Abstraction: Celebrating Australian women abstract artists: a National Gallery of Australia exhibition, curated by Lara Nicholls. Twelve artists include Virginia Cuppaidge, Ildiko Kovacs, Kerrie Poliness, Janet Laurence and Denise Green. 

Some recordings and transcripts are available via the catalogue. 

Search the library catalogue

Related


Photography

Anni Albers

Photograph of older woman sitting on a couch

Anni Albers first collaborated with Kenneth Tyler at Gemini GEL in 1970.

Art & Artists Archives

Photograph of people sitting and standing in library space

James Gleeson Oral History Collection

Landscape photo of a largo white concrete building, late in the construction phase

In the 1970s, leading surrealist painter Dr James Gleeson AO ventured into the studios of 98 Australian artists to discuss their works.

Artists

A woman in a room looking at artwork on a wall

Kenneth Tyler collaborated with leading artists working in America in the post Second World War era. He also mentored emerging artists.

The Kenneth E. Tyler Collection

James Rosenquist (1933-2017)

Artist air brushing mylar for lithography collage.

The Kenneth Tyler Collection team reflect on the career of James Rosenquist, one of the most important figures in Pop Art.

National Gallery On Demand

It's a portrait image of Urs Fischer from in front and below, so he's looking at his phone. Not yet melted enough to have any dripping wax bits

An On demand video and audio collection of art talks, lectures and artist interviews.

Go back to start of main content
Go to top of page

Yuuma, Gurruburri

The National Gallery acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the Kamberri/Canberra region, and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country.

  • National Gallery On Demand
  • Art & Artists
  • What's On
  • Visit
  • Membership
  • Donate
  • Jobs
  • About Us

Connect

+61 2 6240 6411
information@nga.gov.au
Get art in your inbox

Open every day

(except Christmas day)
10am – 5pm

Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
Parkes Place East, Parkes ACT 2600

View Street Map
View Gallery Map


Contact us

National Gallery of Australia

Follow the National gallery of Australia on:

  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Website Privacy Website Disclaimer Website Copyright
Opening Acknowledgment of Country

The National Gallery acknowledges the First Peoples of this land and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country

Learn More
birds-eye view photograph of bushland
    • View All
    • Today
    • Exhibitions
    • Access Programs
    • All Programs
    • On Demand
    • About the Collection
    • Sculpture Garden
    • Kenneth E. Tyler Collection
    • Provenance
    • Conservation
    • Copyright
    • Search the Collection
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Getting Here
    • Parking & Transport
    • Art Store
    • Dining
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Research Library & Archives
    • Admission tickets
    • Browse Stories
    • Browse Videos
    • Artonview Magazine
    • Podcasts
    • Audio Tours
    • Virtual Tours
    • Learning Programs
    • For People with Access Needs
    • For Teachers & Students
    • For Young People
    • For Kids & Families
    • For Adults
    • For Your Community
    • Art Cases
    • Educator Programs
    • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • Voluntary Guides
    • Partnerships
    • Support
    • Donate
  • First Nations
  • Access
  • Art Store
  • Media
  • Venue Hire
  • About Us