Artbank will celebrate its 45th anniversary this August with the launch of a major publication and two new exhibitions across its Melbourne and Sydney locations. The book – On Display: The story of Artbank, Australia’s most visible art collection – chronicles the evolution and impact of Artbank since its founding in 1980, including reflections from artists, curators and gallerists.
Established as a federal initiative to support living Australian artists, Artbank has grown into a nationally significant art leasing program with over 11,000 works by more than 3,500 artists. The program promotes accessibility, with more than half the collection leased at any time to public and private clients.
Artbank Director Zoë Rodriguez comments: “On Display: The story of Artbank, Australia’s most visible art collection tells Artbank’s story from its origins through to today, highlighting its enduring cultural impact and role in embedding art into everyday Australian life. It reinforces the impact that Artbank has had on the Australian arts sector over the past 45 years and its enduring and far-reaching legacy.”
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The publication includes archival material and artist commentary, such as Tony Albert’s reflection: “My work was purchased for the Artbank collection while I was an emerging artist, which was a really wonderful opportunity for me at that time. For any artist, being part of a national collection gives immense validation. It is like the pinnacle of what you’re looking for.”
Artbank’s first director, Graeme Sturgeon, remarked in the early years: “It’s probably more accurate to describe Artbank as a library of art, rather than a bank. We don’t take the work and keep it hidden away.”
Two exhibitions will accompany the book. On Display, in Melbourne from 8th August to 10th October, features work by 26 artists including Sidney Nolan and Emily Kam Kngwarray. Art Text/Text Art, curated by James Kenney and Oliver Watts, opens in Sydney on 28 August, exploring the use of text in contemporary art.
