Queensland Art Gallery facts for kids
  From top: Queensland Art Gallery riverside façade in South Bank, Entrance atrium and Watermall
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| Established | 1895 |
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| Location | Stanley Place, South Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Type | Art museum |
| Visitors | 572,762 (2016) |
| Public transit access | Bus: Cultural Centre station Train: South Brisbane station |
The Queensland Art Gallery (often called QAG) is an art museum located in South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is part of a bigger art group called QAGOMA. The gallery works together with the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) building, which is only about 150 meters away.
The Queensland Art Gallery is owned and run by the Government of Queensland. It was first started in 1895 and was known as the Queensland National Art Gallery.
Contents
History of the Gallery
The gallery began in 1895 as the Queensland National Art Gallery. For many years, it moved around to different temporary places. In the 1960s, it even shared a building with the Queensland Museum.
A businessman and art collector named Sir Leon Trout had an idea. He wanted to include an art gallery in a new cultural center in South Brisbane. The first part of this big new center, designed by Robin Gibson, opened in 1982.
Later, the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) was created in 2006. This led to QAG and GOMA becoming a two-part art institution. By 2014, more than 10 million people had visited both locations. In 2015, the Queensland Art Gallery was officially recognized as a State Heritage Place. This means it's an important historical building.
The very first painting the gallery bought was in 1896. It was called Evicted by a British painter named Blandford Fletcher. This painting was very popular with visitors. However, in 1949, the new director, Robert Campbell, decided to remove it from public display. He said it was only popular because it had a "sentimental touch," not because it was great art.
How the Gallery Was Designed
The Queensland Art Gallery was seen as a very modern building when it was finished in 1982. It used the best building methods and materials available at the time. It was also the first big building to be built on the south side of the river, near the new Victoria Bridge. This set a high standard for other buildings that came after it.
The gallery has a large display area of 4700 square meters. This space is divided by walls and barriers that guide visitors through the art. These walls are placed to create a smooth flow and change the path of your journey through the exhibits.
A key part of the gallery's design is the Watermall. This water feature separates the quiet exhibition areas from the busy areas like offices and public programs. Different ceiling heights and floor levels, along with colors and textures, make each display area unique. The main entrance is a central point where visitors can easily choose which art collections they want to see. The building uses light-colored materials that are easy to maintain, like cement. These materials help the building stay cool and fit in with Brisbane's warm, subtropical climate.
In 2004, the Queensland Art Gallery received the '25 Year Award'. This award is now called the Robin Gibson Award for Enduring Architecture. It recognizes buildings that have stood the test of time and are still excellent after 25 years.
Art Collection
The gallery has many important artworks in its collection. Some of the most well-known include:
- La Belle Hollandaise (1905) by Pablo Picasso
- Under the Jacaranda (1903) by Richard Godfrey Rivers
Australian Artworks
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R. Godfrey Rivers, Under The Jacaranda, 1903
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John Russell, Roc Toul (Roche Guibel), 1904
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E. Phillips Fox, Bathing Hour, 1909
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Peter Purves Smith, Lucile, 1937
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Indigenous Art
The gallery is dedicated to showing Indigenous Australian art. It also works to build strong relationships with Queensland's Indigenous communities.
Exhibitions and Programs
The Queensland Art Gallery often hosts special exhibitions. Here are some examples of past shows:
- California Design 1930–1965: Living in a Modern World (November 2, 2013 – February 9, 2014)
- Quilts 1700–1945 (June 15 – September 22, 2013)
- Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado (July 21 – November 4, 2012)
- Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones (March 27 – June 27, 2010)
- American Impressionism and Realism: A Landmark Exhibition from the Met (May 30 – September 20, 2009)
Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art
One of the gallery's most important projects is the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT). This series of exhibitions is a major event in the art world. Since the first APT in 1993, the gallery has become very skilled at putting on these large shows. This led to the creation of the Australian Centre of Asia Pacific Art (ACAPA). ACAPA helps to create partnerships, research, and publish books about art. It has also helped the gallery build a very important collection of art from the Asia Pacific region.
The 7th Triennial featured Ressort, a huge snake skeleton sculpture by Huang Yong Ping. This artwork was displayed in the gallery's watermall and was bought by the Queensland Art Gallery in 2012.
Art for Young People
The gallery is also known around the world for its great art programs for children. These programs are run through the Children's Art Centre. Helping young people get interested in visual art is a big goal for the gallery.
Some past programs for children include:
- Now is the Time (May 2, 2020 – January 26, 2021)
- Below the Tide Line (December 7, 2019 – May 3, 2020)
- Island Fashion (August 10, 2019 – March 15, 2020)
- APT9 Kids (April 29 – June 16, 2019)
- Ben Quilty: Family Portrait (June 15 – October 20, 2019)
- Patricia Piccinini: Curious Creatures (March 24 – August 5, 2018)
- Tony Albert: We can be Heroes (May 19 – October 7, 2018)
Reaching All Queenslanders
To make sure everyone in Queensland can see the art collection, the gallery sends traveling exhibitions to regional towns and even remote parts of the state.
How the Gallery is Run
The Queensland Art Gallery is managed by a board of trustees. These trustees are chosen by the Queensland Government. The gallery also has an Executive Management Team that helps run things day-to-day. The current director is Chris Saines.
Visiting Hours
The gallery is open every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday. On ANZAC Day, it opens later, at 12:00 PM.
