As part of its 125th anniversary, the Queensland College of Art will celebrate with three major exhibitions featuring some of Australia’s most renowned and respected artists.
The first exhibition in a three-part series COLONIAL TO CONTEMPORARY: Queensland College of Art 125 Years will run from June 10 to July 16 and feature over 80 important historical works by distinguished artists who studied or taught at the QCA from the 1880s to the mid-1970s.
Rarely exhibited works will be on show by William Bustard, Godfrey Rivers, Margaret Olley, Isaac Walter Jenner, Lloyd Rees and Vida Lahey, along with sculptural pieces by Harold Parker and Daphne Mayo and ceramics by Carl McConnell, Milton Moon and the LJ Harvey School.
Following the historical exhibition, a contemporary showcase of emerging and established artists will run from July 22 to August 27 and include 55 works produced from the mid-1970s to 2005.
It will feature works in a variety of media including painting, sculpture, photography, jewellery, furniture design and video. Artists include Vernon Ah Kee, Davida Allen, Gordon Bennett, Tracey Moffatt, Dennis Nona, Luke Roberts, William Robinson, Madonna Staunton, Craig Walsh and Jenny Watson.
A satellite exhibition including works by current QCA staff, based on the theme of self-portraiture, will run in conjunction with the contemporary exhibition and be displayed at the College Gallery, 15 Tribune Street, South Bank.
“These exhibitions will overview the importance of QCA’s ongoing contribution in shaping the cultural and artistic landscape of Queensland after settlement and more broadly for Australia,” said Griffith Artworks Director Simon Wright.
He said the exhibitions would be accompanied by a major, full-colour catalogue containing significant research into the college’s complex history, from its original incarnation as the Brisbane School of Arts, Ann Street in 1881, to its most recent location at South Bank.
“The QCA has had a variety of names and locations. It has also been known as the Central Technical College, which was located on George Street from 1916 to 1974.
“It acquired the name College of Art in 1972 and resided at Morningside for nearly 30 years before moving to its current South Bank home in 2001.It now boasts a purpose-built contemporary gallery space and world-class teaching facilities. It’s been a pleasure to grow into,” he said.
The exhibitions will be accompanied by a program of public events, starting on Saturday, June 10.
For more information, contact the DELL Gallery @ QCA on 07 3735 7414.