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European and American art

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James Turrell Within without 2010 National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Photograph: John GollingsJames Turrell Within without 2010
lighting installation, concrete and basalt stupa, water, earth, landscaping 800 x 2800 x 2800 cm
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Purchased with the support of visitors to the exhibition Masterpieces from Paris 2010
© James Turrell  Photograph: John Gollings

 

The European and American art collection is essentially modern; the representation of European and American art parallels the recorded history of Australian art over the past 200 years and finds its strength in the 20th century.

The collection develops from the beginning of the 19th century in a variety of media which includes painting and sculpture, a strong collection of prints, posters, illustrated books and drawings, a near–complete representation of the history of photography, and an excellent representation of theatre arts, and decorative arts and design.

One of the Gallery's best–known works is Jackson Pollock's Blue poles1952, acquired in 1973. Other highlights include Willem de Kooning's Woman V 1952–53 and Constantin Brancusi's two versions of Bird in Space 1931–36. As well as the collections of European and American art, the Gallery's international collection includes small but select groups of objects and textiles from Africa, and from indigenous North and South America.

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All works are National Gallery of Australia publications unless otherwise stated

For more National Gallery of Australia publications visit the library catalogue online


For general inquiries contact International.Art@nga.gov.au