The Monash Gallery of Art (MGA) this year celebrates its 25th Anniversary. The gallery, which was funded by the sale of council infrastructure, has become an Australian cultural icon.
Designed by internationally renowned architect Harry Seidler, the building houses over 2,400 artworks and is the only public gallery devoted solely to the collection and presentation of Australian photographic works.
“I am so proud to see MGA flourish in the past 25 years. I believe we have a wonderful asset in the City of Monash and for all Australia,” said Trustee of the MGA Foundation and former City of Waverley Mayor Barbara Thompson OAM, who opened the Gallery in June 1990.
“This gallery has achieved real excellence – we have the annual Bowness Photography Prize, a very popular education program which fosters emerging talent, Friends of MGA membership in excess of 300 people, our annual community art day, Art in the park and an enviable collection of Australian photography that is one of the largest in the country. MGA also has a very strong Friends group which has raised in excess of $200,000 towards the running of the Gallery, acquisitions and equipment.”
The 25th Anniversary exhibition, ‘Highlights from the MGA Collection’ brings together a small selection of about 120 key works from The Monash Gallery of Art, City of Monash Collection.
It includes photographs by artists such as Polly Borland, Pat Brassington, Olive Cotton, Max Dupain, Bill Henson, Carol Jerrems, Rosemary Laing, Ricky Maynard, Tracey Moffatt, David Moore, Polixeni Papapetrou, Patricia Piccinini, Michael Riley, Wolfgang Sievers, Mark Strizic, Darren Sylvester, and Anne Zahalka.
“The MGA exhibition, ‘Highlights from the MGA Collection’ gives audiences a rare opportunity to enjoy the treasures of the Collection, which contains what are considered to be iconic masterpieces of Australian photographic history, some of which are rarely exhibited,” said Stephen Zagala, MGA Interim Gallery Director.
Monash Gallery of Art
9 May to 12 July, 2015
Melbourne
Polixeni Papapetrou, Drink Me, from the series ‘Wonderland’, 2004, chromogenic print, 105 x 105cm
Courtesy the Collection of Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne
