Exhibition series focuses on permanent collection

Published on 07 June 2022

Exhibition series focuses on permanent collection at Rockhampton Museum of Art

Much-loved artworks and some rarely seen pieces from Rockhampton’s nationally significant art collection are the focus of an ongoing series of exhibitions at Rockhampton Museum of Art.

Titled Collection Focus, each exhibition will feature a curated selection of artworks from the permanent collection, with a different theme each time.

Artworks on display may include paintings, photography, sculpture and works on paper, with many of them never before seen together and, for some, rarely seen in public at all.

Rockhampton Regional Council Arts and Heritage spokesperson Cr Drew Wickerson said that Collection Focus was a great way for people of the region to see the permanent collection.

“One of the benefits of this marvellous new building is that its size enables us to show much more of the permanent collection than had been possible before. With the space we now have, we can regularly display items from the permanent collection as well as hold several other exhibitions at the same time,” he said.

“Items on display in Collection Focus will change approximately every three months, so I encourage people to come to the museum regularly and reacquaint themselves with Rockhampton’s nationally significant art collection.

“Collection Focus is a team effort with museum staff contributing different perspectives to the choice of works,” he said.

Collection Focus: Up to Us is currently on display. Through a survey of artworks from the Rockhampton Museum of Art Collection, it compares and contrasts agriculture and mass production, industry and the natural world, alongside conflict and large-scale waste.

Rockhampton’s art collection had its genesis in the 1970s when long term Mayor Rex Pilbeam embarked on a campaign to buy artworks by the likes of Sidney Nolan, Margaret Olley, Brett Whiteley and more. Rockhampton now possesses more than 2,000 artworks, including artworks by some of Australia’s most significant artists, forming one of the finest collections of Australian art outside a capital city.

Collection Focus: Up to Us is on display until 2 October in Gallery 2.1 at Rockhampton Museum of Art, 220 Quay Street, Rockhampton. The museum is open 9am to 4pm 7 days a week. Entry to this exhibition is free. More details: www.rmoa.com.au

Rockhampton Museum of Art is owned and operated by Rockhampton Regional Council.