International art

 

Kazimir Malevich 'Stroyuschiysya dom' [House under construction] 1915-16, oil on canvas Collection of the National Gallery of Australia Kazimir Malevich Stroyuschiysya dom [House under construction] 1915-16, oil on canvas Collection of the National Gallery of Australia more detail

The international art collection is essentially modern; the representation of European and American art parallels the recorded history of Australian art over the past 200 years and finds its strength in the 20th century.

The collection develops from the beginning of the 19th century in a variety of media which includes painting and sculpture, a strong collection of prints, posters, illustrated books and drawings, a near-complete representation of the history of photography, and an excellent representation of theatre arts, and decorative arts and design.

One of the Gallery's best-known works is Jackson Pollock's Blue poles 1952, acquired in 1973. Other highlights include Willem de Kooning's Woman V 1952–53 and Constantin Brancusi's two versions of Bird in Space 1931–36. As well as the collections of European and American art, the Gallery's international collection includes small but select groups of objects and textiles from Africa, and from indigenous North and South America.

New acquisition highlights

Related exhibitions


Select publications
all works are National Gallery of Australia publications unless otherwise stated

An artist abroad: the prints of James McNeill Whistler Jane Kinsman, 2005
Building the collection Pauline Green, editor, 2003
Douglas Annand: the art of life Anne McDonald, 2001
French paintings from the Musée Fabre, Montpellier Michel Hilaire, Jörg Zutter and Olivier Zeder, editors, 2003
Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican modernism: the Jacques and Natasha Gelman collection Anthony White editor, 2001
Lucian Freud: after Cézanne, 2001
Monet and Japan 2001
Pierre Bonnard: observing nature Jörg Zutter, editor, 2003
Rodin: sculpture and drawings 2001
Sean Scully: body of light, 2004
Secession: modern art and design in Austria and Germany 1890s–1920s Christine Dixon, 2000

for more National Gallery of Australia publications visit the library catalogue online

More information

Lucian Freud After Cézanne
Ron Mueck Pregnant woman

artonview articles related to the International Prints collection

 

For general inquiries contact International.Art@nga.gov.au