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If you are interested in the arts in Australia you will know of Ben Quilty. He is one of the country’s most acclaimed contemporary artists.

In the last 15 years he has shot to prominence not just as an artist – although he’s won the Archibald Prize, Doug Moran National Portrait Prize and the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship – but as an observer and commentator on social and political issues which concern us all.

Whether it’s issues faced by our indigenous communities, our involvement in wars on foreign soil, and their consequences, or the cruelty of the death penalty imposed on Myuran Sukamaran and on Andrew Chan and Quilty’s campaign to save their lives, he pours maximum energy in highlighting the inequities and injustices in our world through his actions, words and art. His belief that art can instigate positive change is inspiring.

The excellent survey show ‘Quilty’ has just landed in Sydney – via Adelaide and Brisbane – and the Art Gallery of NSW is the perfect venue for it given Quilty’s HSC major work was hung there in 1991 as part of Art Express and 20 years later he won the gallery’s Archibald Prize. He has since become a trustee of the Art Gallery. The exhibition is free and includes works over a 15 year period.

The next podcast episode is with Lisa Slade, the curator of the exhibition and close friend of Quilty, who gives an interesting perspective from a curator’s point of view. That episode will be online in a few weeks.

To hear the podcast interview click on ‘play’ beneath the above feature photo.

Above feature photo:: AGNSW/ Mim Stirling

Current exhibition:

Show Notes

Ben Quilty (centre) with Lisa Slade ( Assistant Director Artistic Programs AGSA and curator of ‘Quilty’) and Justin Paton (Head Curator International Art AGNSW)
Photo taken at the exhibition ‘Quilty’ at the AGNSW
‘The Last Supper 2017’, 2017, oil on linen, 420 x 265cm
Collection of the Art Gallery of NSW
Photo: AGNSW/ Mim Stirling

‘Margaret Olley’, 2011, oil on linen, 170 x 150cm
Winner Archibald Prize 2011
Photo: AGNSW
‘Kandahar’ 2011, oil on linen, 140 x 190cm
Photo: Australian War Memorial
‘Captain S. after Afghanistan’ 2012, oil on linen, 210 x 230cm
Finalist Archibald Prize 2012
Photo: AGNSW/ Mim Stirling
Self-portrait, after Afghanistan, 2012, oil on linen, 130 x 120cm
Photo: AGNSW/ Mim Stirling
‘High Water Mark’, 2016, oil on canvas170.5x 160.4cm
Collection of the National Gallery of Victoria
Photo: National Gallery of Victoria
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10 thoughts on “Ep 80: Ben Quilty”

  5. John

    Felt a little rushed. It is a shame you weren’t able to touch on his early influences and his time in Paris after winning the Brett Whiteley scholarship.

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