Next date: Friday, 13 February 2026 | 09:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Join leading Australian artist Ben Quilty in conversation with Director Jonathan McBurnie as he shares about his practice, career and how art is a tool for change.
Living and working on Gundungurra Country, south of Sydney, Quilty is widely known for his thick, gestural oil paintings and has worked across a range of media. His works often serve as a reflection of social and political events; from the current global refugee crisis to the complex social history of Australia, he is constantly critiquing notions of identity, patriotism and belonging.
Quilty has been a finalist in the prestigious Wynne and Archibald prizes and won the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2009 and the Archibald Prize in 2011 with his portrait of artist, Margaret Olley. In 2011, Quilty travelled to Afghanistan as an official war artist with The Australian War Memorial. He was invited by World Vision Australia to travel to Greece, Serbia and Lebanon with author, Richard Flanagan, to witness firsthand the international refugee crisis in 2016. From 2012-2021 Quilty was a Trustee on the Board of the Art Gallery of NSW. He is also the Founder of Ngununggula, The Southern Highlands Regional Gallery and in late 2025 was appointed as a member of the National Gallery of Australia Council.
Tickets for this program are free. There is an option to purchase a contribution ticket at $5.00 or $10.00 for those who have capacity and wish to support audience engagement and learning programs at RMOA. If you select a contribution ticket, there's no need to also select an admission ticket (selecting both will reserve two places).
FREE