https://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0009/2382381/200295_banner_strange-fruit-sculpture_950x475jpg.jpg

Deakin University Art Gallery

An exciting venue for the University's program of exhibitions and arts events, including exhibitions drawn from the University's art collection, group and solo exhibitions by Australian artists and selected student, staff and alumni work.

Image: Adrian Mauriks, Strange Fruit 2010, painted epoxy resin, Gift of the artist 2020, Deakin University Art Collection. Image © and courtesy of the artist. Photo by Simon Peter Fox.

Current exhibition

Text – Re read

When: 24 October–15 December 2023

Co-curated by Stephen Wickham and Leanne Willis, this exhibition is a celebration of thoughtful engagement with ideas. Text – Re read acknowledges the importance of words, texts, articles and books, from illuminated manuscripts to la poésie concrete, words and the ideas therein that remain central to art-making and its reception.

Much has been said about the inspirational muses and the ‘Eureka moment’ – the flash of insight where sources and origins are revealed and then manifested. This exhibition highlights a slow consideration of the complex relationships between artists, artworks and the ideas embodied in books and many other material sources. Text – Re read is the second exhibition of the Deakin University Centre for Abstract+Non-Objective Art, The Void: Visible. Abstraction & Non-Objective Art being the inaugural in November 2017.

Participating artists include: Andrew Christofides, Tracey Coutts, Janet Dawson, Lesley Dumbrell, Suzie Idiens, Raafat Ishak, Simon Klose, Sean Loughrey, Andrew Rogers, Wilma Tabacco and Stephen Wickham.

Take a virtual tour of the exhibition

Andrew Christofides

Artwork: Eternal Space III, 2015, photography Michele Brouet.
Play interview with Andrew Christofides

Andrew Christofides - Eternal Space III

Tracey Coutts

Artwork: Weave, 2016, acrylic on marine ply, photography by Michael McMullan. 
Play interview with Tracey Coutts

Tracey Coutts - Weave

Janet Dawson

Artwork: Easter Sunday Moon, 2019, acrylic and oil on panel, Deakin University Art Collection, purchase 2023. Photography Simon Peter Fox
Play interview with Janet Dawson

Janet Dawson - Easter Sunday Moon

Lesley Dumbrell

Artwork: Gridelin, 2007, oil on linen. Courtesy of the artist and Charles Nodrum Gallery, photography Simon Peter Fox.
Play interview with Lesley Dumbrell

Lesley Dumbrell - Gridelin

Suzie Idiens

Artwork: Untitled #3 (Blue Wedge) 2017, MDF, Polyurethane, photography Fiona Susanto.
Play interview with Suzie Idiens

Suzie Idiens - Untitled

Raafat Ishak and Sean Loughrey

Artwork: Fanflag 7, Ocular Lab, 2006, Courtesy of the artists and Sutton Gallery, photography courtesy the artists.
Play interview with Raafat Ishak and Sean Loughrey

Sean and Raafat - Fanglag 7

Simon Klose

Artwork: no title, orange/black, Dec 2022, photography Simon Peter Fox.
Play interview with Simon Klose

Simon Klose - no title

Andrew Rogers

Artwork:I Believe IV, 2022, bronze and stainless steel, photography Gavin Hansford.
Play interview with Andrew Rogers

Andrew Rogers - I Believe IV

Wilma Tabacco

Artwork: Lariat, 2022, oil on linen Courtesy the artist and Gallerysmith, photography Mark Ashkanasy
Play interview with Wilma Tabacco

Wilma Tabacco - Lariat

Stephen Wickham

Artwork: Black Cruciform as Stupa Floor Plan 1996, oil on linen, Deakin University Art Collection, donated by the artist 2017, photography Simon Peter Fox.
Play interview with Stephen Wickham

10_Stephen_Wickham

Virtual tour artwork labels

Artwork left to right on Gallery wall

Janet Dawson

Easter Sunday Moon, 2019, acrylic and oil on panel

Deakin University Art Collection, purchase 2023.

Janet Dawson

Untitled, 2021, charcoal on paper, Deakin University Art Collection, donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Anouk Hulme in memory of Etta and Emmanuel Hirsh, 2021

Janet Dawson

Parts of Fortune, 1981, sprayed stencil, Deakin University Art Collection, purchase, 1981

Raafat Ishak and Sean Loughrey

Fanflag 7, Ocular Lab, 2006

Courtesy of the artists and Sutton Gallery

Andrew Christofides

Eternal Space I, 2015

acrylic on canvas

Andrew Christofides

Eternal Space II, 2015

acrylic on canvas

Andrew Christofides

Eternal Space III, 2015

acrylic on canvas

Tracey Coutts

Untitled Series 1 (lines contract in), 2013

oil on marine ply

Tracey Coutts

Untitled Series 2 (lines expand out), 2013

oil on marine ply

Tracey Coutts

Weave, 2016

acrylic on marine ply

Suzie Idiens

Untitled #9 (Pink Vertical) 2016

MDF, Polyurethane

Suzie Idiens

Untitled #10 (Blue Vertical) 2016

MDF, Polyurethane

Suzie Idiens

Untitled #3 (Blue Wedge) 2017

MDF, Polyurethane

Lesley Dumbrell

Gridelin, 2007

oil on linen

Courtesy of the artist and Charles Nodrum Gallery

Simon Klose

Upper left:

Simon Klose

no title, orange/black, Dec.2022

Lower left:

Simon Klose

no title, green black/cream yellow (oil /gold), June 2023

Right:

Simon Klose

no title, orange/pale green, April 2023

Wilma Tabacco

Lariat, 2022

oil on linen

Courtesy the artist and Gallerysmith

Stephen Wickham

Artwork left to right:

Stephen Wickham

Ink pen on paper, 1986-1991

Stephen Wickham

Black Cruciform as Stupa Floor Plan 1996, oil on linen, Deakin University Art Collection, donated by the artist 2017

Stephen Wickham

But it’s getting there, 2023, oil on Linen

Artwork left to right on floor in centre of Gallery

Andrew Rogers

Artworks left to right:

Andrew Rogers

I Believe I, 2021, bronze and stainless steel

Andrew Rogers

I Believe II, 2021, bronze and stainless steel

Andrew Rogers

I Believe IV, 2022, bronze and stainless steel

Cabinet contents – cabinet 1 left side

Left to right:

Lesley Dumbrell

Book:

Ian Paterson, A Dictionary of Colour – A lexicon of the language of colour, Thorogood Publishing Ltd, London, 2003

Suzie Idiens

Book:

Singular Forms (Sometimes Repeated): Art from 1951 to the Present. Guggenheim Museum Publications. 2004. ISBN: 0-89207-308-X. Skinning Art. Mark C. Taylor. Page 25.

Stephen Wickham

Book: 

Kasimir Malevich’s Black Square and the Genesis of Suprmatism 1907-1915W. Sherwin Simmons Garland Publishing, Inc, New York & London. 1981.  ISBN 0-8240-3942-4   AACR2 Display page 314.

Wilma Tabacco

Book:

Charta: Dal papiro al computer, G. M. Cardona, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, S.p.A., Milano

Simon Klose

Book:

Exhibition Catalogue, Two Decades of American Painting, Waldo Rasmussen (Lucy Lippard, G.R. Swenson), The Museum of Modern Art, New York Date 1967

Tracey Coutts

Artist book

Rotated Cube, 2014

artist book printed on Sovereign Offset 180gsm paper

Tracey Coutts

Book:  

Design Rehearsals – conversations about Bauhaus lessons. Spector Books, Leipzig. 2019.  ISBN 978-3-95905-270-2.  Part 2: Questioning Knowledge.   Tim Ingold In Conversation page 97.

Raafat Ishak and Sean Loughrey

Book:

El Lissitzky. Life-letters-texts. Sophie Lissitzky-Küppers. Introduction by Herbert Read.

Published by Thames and Hudson, London, 1980.

Janet Dawson

Book:

First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, James R Hansen, Simon & Schuster USA, 2005. ISBN 0-7432-5631-X

Cabinet contents – cabinet 2 right side

Left to right:

Andrew Christofides

A series of 12 working drawings, 2014 - 2021

Andrew Christofides

Book:

The Civil Architecture of Vitruvius, 1813 edition.  Vitruvius Pollio, Marcus. Translated by William Wilkins, London, Printed by Thomas Davison, Whitefriars. For Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-Row. 1812.

Andrew Rogers

Andrew Rogers

Cast bronze plaque with work relating to the text Sapiens A Brief History of Humankind.

Book:

Sapiens; A Brief History of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari, Harper; Illustrated edition, 10 February 2015 [English]

ISBN 9780062316097

Upcoming exhibitions

Exhibitions are primarily held at the Deakin University Art Gallery, Melbourne Burwood Campus and at Deakin University gallery spaces across our campuses. Please click on the below link to see our upcoming exhibitions.

Past exhibitions

Please click on the below link to find a selection of past exhibitions, including immersive virtual tours.

Exhibition catalogues

Interactive catalogues for our exhibitions are available via Issuu.

Education and public programs

Public programs at Deakin University Art Gallery include floor talks, panel presentations and seminars. We also offer education programs for schools and community groups that feature guided exhibition and collection tours, behind-the-scenes presentations and hands-on workshops.

School programs

The Deakin University Art Gallery offers a range of vibrant and diverse education programs based on current exhibitions and the art collection. All programs are free of charge and can be tailored to suit your schools' needs and/or interests.

Learn more about our school programs

Community group programs and guided tours

We offer a range of different options for community groups, including outreach programs based around the Deakin University Art Collection. Contact us with your requirements and we can tailor a session for your group or arrange a guided tour.

Self-guided tours

For self-guided tours, download one of our free art collection (Deakin Downtown and Warrnambool Campus) or Sculpture Walk guides (Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds and Geelong Waterfront campuses).

Deakin Downtown art collection guide

Warrnambool Campus art collection guide

Melbourne Burwood Campus Sculpture Walk guide

Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus Sculpture Walk guide

Geelong Waterfront Campus Sculpture Walk guide

Stay up to date

If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please register you details.

Deakin University Art Collection

Marlene Gilson, Possession Captain Cook First Fleet 2017, synthetic polymer paint on linen, Purchase 2017, Deakin University Art Collection. Image © and courtesy of the artist and Martin Browne Contemporary, Sydney.

The Deakin University Art Collection is a unique and treasured collection of contemporary artworks by some of Australia’s leading artists. The collection reflects the cultural aspirations of Deakin and plays a significant role in creating a welcoming environment on campus, enriching the experience of university life and contributing to philosophical inquiry and creative research.

The collection first came together with artworks from Deakin University’s antecedent institutional collections including the Victoria State Teachers College, Prahran College of Advanced Education, the Douglas McDonnell and others. It now consists of approximately 2400 artworks by over 900 artists.

The collection is comprised of examples of innovative creative practices including achievements in painting, sculpture, print, drawing, ceramic, photography, textiles and includes one of Australia’s largest holdings of artist books. Importantly, it is home to cherished artworks by First Peoples, including many artists that are based in South-Eastern Australia. It also houses artworks by our past and present students and staff, telling a special story of the Deakin University origins and its community.

A selection of important works in the collection are by artists such as: Hoda Afshar, George Baldessin, Gordon Bennett, Uncle Jim Berg, Ronald Bull, Arthur Boyd, Stephen Bram, Maree Clarke, John Cato, Vicki Couzens, Mikala Dwyer, Fayen d’Evie, Robert Fielding, Emily Floyd, Sally Gabori, Simyrn Gill, Aunty Marlene Gilson, Elizabeth Gower, Inge King, Robert Klippel, Hayley Millar-Baker, Sidney Nolan, Lin Onus, John Olsen, Robert Rooney, Mike Parr, Kerrie Poliness, The Ken Sisters, Jenny Watson, Ron Robertson-Swann and Fred Williams among many others.

Maintaining and developing this collection demonstrates the University’s ongoing interest in the study, patronage and advancement of the visual arts in Australia. Acquisition highlights can often be found through our social media.

We are always happy to consider donations from artists and collectors as direct donations or through the Australian Government Cultural Gifts Program, please email us for more information. If you have a research or collection enquiry, please contact the Art Gallery team.

Management of personal information

Deakin University manages personal information it holds, including requests by individuals for access to their personal information, in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic). Individuals have a right to gain access to their personal information held by the University. Further information about privacy at Deakin may be obtained by contacting the Privacy Officer at (03) 5227 8524 or at privacy@deakin.edu.au.

Personal information of artists

This statement outlines how Deakin University handles the personal information of artists whose works are held by the Deakin University Art Gallery.

Purpose of collection

Deakin University collects an artist's personal information for the primary purposes of acquisition of an artwork, management and maintenance of the University's art collection and for the purposes of exhibiting, interpreting and promoting the artwork, the artist and the Art Collection.

Means of collection

Deakin may collect personal information from the artist directly during interactions with Deakin staff, most often staff of the Art Collection and Galleries Unit. Deakin may also collect personal information from third parties (e.g., artists' agents, owners of artwork, other gallery owners) or publicly available print or online resources.

Use and disclosure

An artist's personal information may be used by the Art Collection and Galleries Unit in preparation of interpretive materials, catalogues and promotional materials, all of which may be in print or online format. For these purposes, an artist's personal information may also be used by other operational units of Deakin (e.g., its Marketing Division)

Contact details

Parking

Parking is available at Melbourne Burwood Campus. You can buy hourly or daily parking permits by using the CellOPass parking app. Download the CellOPass parking app in the Google Play store or the App Store.

Find out more about parking at Deakin

Visit us

The gallery is open Monday–Friday, 11am–5pm*

Deakin University Art Gallery
Building FA

Melbourne Burwood Campus
221 Burwood Highway
Burwood, VIC 3125

To find the gallery on campus, enter Deakin University via Entrance 1, (Holland Avenue), off Burwood Highway. Continue straight for 500 metres. As you pass the overhead foot bridge, the gallery is on your right. If arriving by car, you can park in any of the bays on the left of Holland Avenue. Alternatively, follow Holland Avenue all the way around to the second parking entrance.

Find out more about how to get to Deakin

Footnotes

Banner image: Adrian Mauriks, ‘Strange Fruit 2010’, painted epoxy resin, 235 x 700 x 200cm. Deakin University Art Collection. Gift of the artist, 2020. Photography Simon Peter Fox. Image courtesy the artist estate. Pictured in situ at the Melbourne Campus at Burwood.
*During exhibitions only, closed public holidays

Contact us

Contact us with any enquiries. Or register to our mailing list and follow the Deakin Art Gallery on social media to stay up to date with the latest news.

+61 3 9244 5344
Email Deakin Art Gallery

Facebook @ArtDeakin
Instagram @deakinartgallery
Twitter @ArtDeakin