19th and Early 20th Century Australian Art
Benalla Art Gallery has some extraordinary paintings, sculptures, works on paper, decorative arts and furniture reflecting European trends of the late 19th and early 20th century.
This historical colonial and European influence of traditional styles and subjects in art is evident in a selection of paintings, prints and drawings from the Ledger Bequest with key works by Conrad Martens, S.T. Gill, Eugene von Guerard, Louis Buvelot, W.C. Piguenit, Edward Roper and Charles Rolando.
Indigenous Art
Benalla Art Gallery holds an incredible range of traditional and contemporary Indigenous artworks that survey the diversity, richness and complexity of the Aboriginal people and their traditions.
The collection features works in a variety of media including painting on bark and canvas, sculpture, textiles, weaving, photomedia, printmaking and installation. Included in the collection are works by leading artists such as Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamara, Anatjari Tjakamarra, Ronnie Tjampitjinpa, Tommy McRae, Albert Namatjira, Turkey Tolson Tjupurrula, Rover Thomas, Gloria Tamerre Petyarre, Gordon Bennett, Brook Andrew, Destiny Deacon, Leah King-Smith and Fiona Foley.
Modern and Contemporary Art
Benalla Art Gallery's collection of modern and contemporary artworks from the 20th and 21st century includes painting, photography, sculpture, prints and drawings. The collection traces the development of modern and contemporary Australian art from the Melbourne and Sydney moderns, the Heide circle, abstraction and figurative Australian art though to postmodernism and the present day.
Artists such as Grace Cossington Smith, Margaret Preston, Thea Proctor, Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker, Fred Williams, Leonard French, Jeffrey Smart and Clement Meadmore are amongst the many important 20th century Australian painters and sculptors represented in the collection.
Benalla Art Gallery is committed to building a significant collection of contemporary Australian art. Represented are works by leading contemporary artists such as Robert Jacks, John Sandler, Ivan Durrant, Dick Watkins, Sydney Ball, Angela Brennan, Peter Booth, Rosalie Gascoigne, Inge King, Howard Arkley, Juan Davila, Tim Maguire, Patricia Piccinini, Tim Storrier, Rick Amor, Polixeni Papapetrou, Mike Parr, Peter Tyndall, Sally Smart and Jason Benjamin.
