It’s almost impossible to imagine the Australian art scene without Sullivan+Strumpf, but yes they are now twenty – and, according to tradition, a 20-year anniversary is celebrated with ceramics. Mind you, it will be none of that naff stuff, but rather something fabulous from artist Kirsten Ceelho or what about something wild from Dawn Ng, or Glenn Barkely or something wilder still from Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran.
In short, Sullivan+Strumpf have guided the Australian collecting cohort (both public and private) and tastemakers into the world of contemporary art with a fearless rejection of anything staid. Instead, they have championed photographers such as the indomitable Polly Borland, whose picture of Queen Elizabeth is an icon of cultural contrasts – the shimmering gold background was inspired by a sex worker window in Amsterdam! Her Bunny series featuring actress Gwendoline Christie is another extraordinary collection that makes an appearance in some really fabulous interiors.
So too has the gallery given appropriate focus to established artists of note. In particular, the artist Sydney Ball, who they picked up in his later years and whose estate they now represent. Syd (as he was always known) loved being part of the Sullivan+Strumpf stable and not just for the sales, which all artists appreciate, but rather for the joy of having his art so well appreciated. That, and the really good openings and birthday parties Ursula Sullivan and Joanna Strumpf hosted, made his last years sing.
An almost reluctant icon, Syd was taken up by not just the gallery but also the world of interior design and architecture, with David Flack in particular placing his work into sublime interiors. Similarly with exteriors, as he placed several on the courtyard walls at Troy Sivan’s private home, Carlton House.
Flack is also hugely appreciative of the gallery and had this to say on the announcement of their anniversary: “Joanna and Ursula have completely reshaped the Australian contemporary art landscape, but, on a personal note, they were the first gallery to take a punt in my studio and support us from early days when we were still unknown – loans of artwork, introduction to artists and trust in us as a studio to nurture their artists in a true representation within our interiors. Not only are we true collaborators, they are dear friends for life… I love, respect and value our friendship. Congratulations.”
This is a sentiment shared throughout the industry, with James Erskine, Director of Liverpool Street Gallery and Ursula’s former employer, stating: “Ursula has always been one of my favourite gallerists and I have come across many in my years of collecting. She was great at Liverpool Street and has gone on to bigger and better things. Sullivan & Strumpf are putting some great Australian artists on the map and have some exciting and new artists exhibiting. A great success after 20 years. They are a wonderful asset to the Australian art scene and good people to go with it.”
Opening their doors in Zetland at a time when Zetland wasn’t chic, it was the personalities of the pair that drew the crowds, and the art that kept them coming back for more. Artists such as Tony Albert, Sam Jinks, Joanne Lamb, Daniel Crooks, Alex Seaton, Tim Silver and Sam Leach were early favourites along with the extraordinary eX de Medici. The list is long, with some 40 artists, including Lara Merrett, Natalia Hughes, Eko Nugroho and Kenchana Gupta represented across three galleries in Sydney, Singapore and Melbourne.
The gallery has also explored the world of opportunities taking Australian artists to a great many international art fairs. Part of their charm is found in the way the pair bounce off each other with a sometimes hilarious repartee, always fun, always irreverent, but always very serious about art and artists (unless it’s really bad or badly managed, in which case they are scathing – it was Ursula who pointed out a gallery at the Seoul art fair that was putting big red sold stickers straight on to the art). They are moreover exceedingly well informed with a great team behind them and an enormous amount of respect and love from the art collecting world. We wish them a truly heart felt congratulations.
