Art Museum

LTU Art Collection and Banyule Art Collection

Since the Dadaists introduced their ready-mades at the beginning of the Twentieth century, the once stable definition of sculpture has become malleable and problematic: contemporary sculpture is defined by its diversity.  The divide between the traditional arts – sculpture, architecture and painting – is breaking down, as is the distinction between ‘art’ and ‘craft’.  Curious Forms celebrates this diversity while also exploring inter-relationships and points of connection within contemporary sculptural practice.

This collaborative exhibition draws sculptural and three dimensional objects from the art collections of La Trobe University and the City of Banyule and includes works by Kate Ellis, Mari Funaki, Judy Holding, Vera Möller, Lenton Parr, Gwyn Hanssen Pigott, and John Wolseley.

Mark Schaller: Drawing with Chainsaws

Mark Schaller is known for his paintings, prints, sculptures and collages among other things. He is also known for his constant exploration and testing of the boundaries of art making. Drawing with Chainsaws continues this journey. The exhibition presents new works that are part painting, part sculpture and part collage. Using fallen trees as his material and a chainsaw as his pencil Schaller becomes an alchemist creating works that challenge preconceived categories so readily adopted by the art world.

Often Spotted Rarely Seen: Celebrating 40 years of Collecting

Often Spotted, Rarely Seen celebrates 40 years of art collecting at La Trobe University. The exhibition brings together important works from the Art Collection, with an emphasis on those that have not been seen publicly for many years.  It demonstrates the breadth and diversity of the University’s art collection and furthermore documents five decades of Australian Art from the 1950s to present.

The exhibition includes works by artists such as Charles Blackman, John Coburn, Petrina Hicks, Frank Hodgkinson, Roger Kemp, Fiona Omeenyo, Wendy Stavrianos and Peter Tyndall.

La Trobe Lifeskills: Touching the Surface

La Trobe Lifeskills, is one of Victoria’s leading providers of nationally recognised courses to young people with disabilities and impairments. Touching the Surface showcases the work of students involved in La Trobe Lifeskill’s art program. The exhibition is a visual and tactile experience that incorporates the use of mosaic, textile, collage and mixed medium. Through exploration artists experiment, play and discover the endless opportunies to express the meaning of surface.

KITE: Mike Brown and the Sydney 12

In 1964 Mike Brown produced a work – known since as “KITE” – that challenged and criticised twelve Sydney artists for their blatant embracing of the commercial art-world and its perceived pitfalls. The octagonal shaped work (which has at its’ centre the cover of Hungry Horse Art Gallery’s annual calendar) is dominated by Brown’s essay criticising these artists. KITE: Mike Brown and the Sydney 12 returns to this monumental episode in Australian art history juxtaposing Brown’s work with those whom he criticised.

New Works

Established in 1964, the La Trobe University Art Collection preceded the construction of any buildings on the University’s main campus at Bundoora. The collection focuses on works produced by Australian artists from this period to the present. New Works celebrates the continuing commitment by La Trobe University to the visual arts and presents a selection of works acquired in 2006 and 2007 for the University Art Collection.

DLAP 07: City of Darebin La Trobe University Acquisitive Art Prize

This is the six biannual City of Darebin La Trobe University Acquisitive Art Prize. The award and subsequent exhibition showcases the art of both emerging and established Victorian artists. The award aims to support artists by exhibiting their work and offering the opportunity to be represented in a public art collection. In 2007 the work judged best overall will be acquired for the City of Darebin Art Collection, the best work by an emerging artist will enter the La Trobe University Art Collection.

Clifton Pugh: Printmaker

Clifton Pugh (1924 - 1990) is best known as a painter of portraits, nudes and landscapes, with a particular passion for Australia and its wildlife.  However, Pugh was also a prolific printmaker (etchings, lithographs and monotypes).  Many of the themes of his print works mirrored those of his paintings, but the process allowed him to consider and introduce different concepts into the same subject.  This exhibition will showcase some of Pugh’s favourite themes including Leda and the Swan, and his Australianized version - Leda and the Emu; images of the Australian landscape; native flora and fauna; and concern for the environment.