Tony Albert is one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists with a longstanding interest in the cultural misrepresentation of Aboriginal people. Drawing on both personal and collective histories, his multidisciplinary practice considers the ways in which optimism might be utilised to overcome adversity. His work poses crucial questions such as how do we remember, give justice to, and rewrite complex and traumatic histories?
Albert is acknowledged industry wide as a valued ambassador for Indigenous community and culture. He was recently announced as the inaugural Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain First Nations Curatorial Fellow. He is the first Indigenous Trustee for the Art Gallery of New South Wales, a member of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Indigenous advisory, a board member for the City of Sydney's Public Art Panel and member of the Art & Place Board at the Queensland Children's Hospital and in January 2023 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Griffith University for his significant contribution to the arts.
By submitting this form, you consent to receive messages from Sullivan + Strumpf. Message frequency varies. You can unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link (where available) in one of our messages.
Tony Albert is one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists with a longstanding interest in the cultural misrepresentation of Aboriginal people. Drawing on both personal and collective histories, his multidisciplinary practice considers the ways in which optimism might be utilised to overcome adversity. He courageously engages in difficult conversations to shed light on problematic histories and current injustices faced by First Nations people.
Albert is acknowledged industry wide as a valued ambassador for Indigenous community and culture. He was recently announced as the Artistic Director for the 5th National Indigenous Art TrienniaI: After The Rain for the National Gallery of Australia. He is the first First Nations Curatorial Fellow for the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, the first Indigenous Trustee for the Art Gallery of New South Wales, a member of the Art Gallery of New South Wales Indigenous advisory, a board member for the City of Sydney's Public Art Panel and member of the Art & Place Board at the Queensland Children's Hospital and in January 2023 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Griffith University for his significant contribution to the arts.
Albert has been awarded several prestigious public commissions and prizes both within Australia and internationally. Most recently, renowned Indigenous collective proppaNOW, of which Tony is a founding member, were awarded the 2022-24 Jane Lombard Prize for Art and Social Justice (USA). Significant commissions include The Big Hose, an iconic outdoor play sculpture for QAGOMA which is being made in collaboration with artist Nell and will be launched in 2025; Inhabitant, a monumental 15-metre-long floating botanical sculpture which welcomes visitors at the entrance of the transformed Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane; Murmurations in collaboration with Angela Tiatia for the Museum of History NSW, Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney in 2023; Unpacking History, a Native Bouquet for New York commissioned for Public Art Fund’s Global Positioning, exhibited on bus shelters throughout New York City, Chicago, and Boston; Two Worlds Colliding, a culturally informed design and artwork for Allianz Sydney Football Stadium which was unveiled in 2022; Healing Land, Remembering Country an interactive installation for NIRIN: the 22nd Biennale of Sydney in 2020 and Yininmadyemi Thou didst Let Fall Sydney Hyde Park War Memorial, City of Sydney (2015).
Albert is strongly represented in major national and international collections including Fondation Opal, Switzerland; National Gallery of Australia; National Gallery of Victoria; Australian War Memorial, Canberra; Parliament House New South Wales, Sydney; Art Gallery of New South Wales; Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; Art Gallery of Western Australia; Art Gallery of South Australia; and Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art.
Sullivan+Strumpf acknowledge the Indigenous People of this land, the traditional custodians on whose Country we work, live and learn. We pay respect to Elders, past and present, and recognise their continued connection to culture, land, waters and community.