Artists’ Artists

Ben Quilty was born in 1973 in Sydney. He emerged in the early 2000s with a breakthrough series of 14 paintings of his beloved 1972 Holden LJ Torana. Working across drawing, printmaking, sculpture and installation, Ben exhibits prolifically both locally and internationally, exploring imagery and ideas that are at once personal, political and cultural. The National Gallery has been collecting Quilty’s work since 2007. Artworks discussed: 1. Emily Kam Kngwarray, Anmatyerr People, Yam awely 1995, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, gift of the Delmore Collection, Donald and Janet Holt 1995 © Emily Kam Kngwarray/Copyright Agency [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/6302] 2. Clarice Beckett, Evening Landscape c 1925, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Purchased 1974 [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/36477] 3. John Glover, Mount Wellington and Hobart Town from Kangaroo Point 1834, National Gallery of Australia, [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/141634]Kamberri/Canberra, [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/6302]Nerissa Johnson Bequest Fund 2001, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and National Gallery of Australia [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/141634] 4. David Hockney, A Bigger Grand Canyon 1998, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased with the assistance of Kerry Stokes, Carol and Tony Berg and the O'Reilly family 1999 © David Hockney [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/20923] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Jenny Watson is an Australian artist who has been painting for more than four decades. Born in Melbourne in 1951, her work is inspired by punk and feminism, her memories and dreams, fantasies and fears—and in particular her love of horses. She employs collage, text, self-portraiture and humour to create powerful narratives about growing up in the suburbs and making her way in the world. In 1993 she was the first female artist to represent Australia in a solo exhibition at the Venice Biennale.   Works of art discussed: 1. Jackson Pollock, Blue poles 1952, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 1973 © Pollock-Krasner Foundation. ARS/Copyright Agency [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/36334] 2. Robert Jacks, Grey grid 1974, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, gift of Daniel Thomas, 1980 © Robert Jacks/Copyright Agency [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/72662] 3. Jeffrey Smart, Playground (Children playing) 1951, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased with the assistance of James Agapitos OAM and Ray Wilson OAM 2007 © The Estate of Jeffrey Smart [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/167244] 4. Hal Missingham, Artist’s outing, Sydney Harbour 1969, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 1974 © The estate of Hal Missingham [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/35978] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Urs Fischer was born in Switzerland in 1973. Now based in Los Angeles, he creates works of art from materials as varied as gesso, photography, latex, paint, bronze, clay, steel, dirt, and even food. His wildly original, often humorous images and objects can disorient, bewilder, and often amaze. He's possibly best known for his ephemeral wax candle sculptures, which gradually burn down while they're on display, before being recast. In 2018, the National Gallery acquired Fischer's four metre high wax candle sculpture, Francesco. Works of art discussed: 1. Charles Conder, Bronte Beach 1988, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased from Gallery admission charges 1982 [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/89097] 2. Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra, Luritja/Warlpiri peoples, Water Course 1972, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, the Peter Fannin Collection of Early Western Desert Paintings, 1998 © the estate of the artist, licensed by Aboriginal Artists Agency Ltd [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/16758] 3. Sidney Nolan, Collage from “The Disciple” c 1939, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 1992 © Sidney Nolan Trust [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/100534] 4. Salvador Dali, Lobster telephone 1936 National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 1994 © Salvador Dalí. Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí/Copyright Agency [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/2607] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Juz Kitson was born in Sydney, and divides her time between the Australian south coast and Jingdezhen the ‘porcelain capital’ of China. Her intricate, evocative sculptures—which she creates from materials including porcelain, fur, paraffin wax, silk, resin, glass and bone—begin, she says, from ‘gathering resources, experiences, and connections—human connection, connection to land, and connection to different customs and culture’. The result is a body of work that explores, in the artist’s words ‘sex, the nature of humans and animals, ideas of womanhood, birth and death’. The National Gallery has five of her works in its collection.  Works of art discussed: 1. Sarah Lucas,TITTIPUSSIDAD 2018, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2021 © Sarah Lucas, courtesy Sadie Coles HQ, London  [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/347754] 2. Rosemary Laing, flight research #6 1999, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2001 © Rosemary Laing [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/134462] 3. Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emim, Carolina Nitsch Editions, Dyenamix, And so I kissed you 2009-10, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2020 © Tracey Emin/Copyright Agency [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/348724] 4. Paul Greenaway, Sumo and Sabrina 1977, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, Crafts Board Collection donated by the Australia Council 1982 [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/98422] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Archie Moore was born in 1970 in Toowoomba, Queensland and is of Kamilaroi and Bigambul heritage. He works across media in conceptual, research-based portrayals of self and national histories. His ongoing interests include key signifiers of identity (skin, language, smell, home, genealogy, flags), the borders of intercultural understanding and misunderstanding and the wider concerns of racism. In 2024, Moore represented Australia at the Venice Biennale; his exhibition, kith and kin was awarded the Golden Lion for best National Participation. The National Gallery has collected Moore’s work in depth since 2012. Works of art discussed: 1. Ramingining Artists, Djon Mundine, Bandjalung people, The Aboriginal Memorial 1987–88, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/CAnberra, purchased with the assistance of funds from National Gallery admission charges and commissioned in 1987 © Ramingining artists/Copyright Agency [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/77568] 2. Lucy Griggs, Suprematist people 2011, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, the Rotary Collection of Australian Art, 2012 [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/215445] 3. Leah King-Smith, Bigambul people, Untitled No 3, 1992, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberi/Canberra, KODAK (Australasia) PTY LTD Fund 1994 [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/179394] 4.  John Armstrong, Unless goats are fenced properly they will eat trees and sculptures, 1976, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 1976 [https://searchthecollection.nga.gov.au/object/15251] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.