Tony Albert facts for kids

Tony Albert, born in 1981, is a modern Australian artist. He creates art using many different materials, like paint, photos, and mixed media (a mix of different things). His art often explores important topics about Aboriginal and Australian history and culture. He also looks at "Aboriginalia," which are everyday objects that show Aboriginal designs, sometimes in a simple or old-fashioned way.

About Tony Albert

Tony Albert was born in 1981 in Townsville, a city in North Queensland, Australia. In 2004, he finished his studies at the Queensland College of Art. He earned a degree in Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art. His family comes from Cardwell, Queensland. He is a descendant of the Girramay, Yidinji, and Kuku-Yalanji peoples.

Tony Albert was one of the first members of a group called ProppaNOW. This group of Indigenous artists started in 2004. Other artists in ProppaNOW include Richard Bell, Jennifer Herd, Vernon Ah Kee, Fiona Foley, Bianca Beetson, and Andrea Fisher.

Tony Albert's Artworks

Like some other artists, Tony Albert often uses text in his art. One of his artworks is called Headhunter (2007). This was an installation, which means it was a collection of objects placed together. He had been collecting these objects for many years. This artwork shows how Aboriginal people were sometimes seen and used in the past in Australia. It highlights a time when real connections with Aboriginal people were rare.

Tony Albert also uses text in his photographs. An example is his photo series called Hey ya! (Shake it like a Polaroid picture) from 2007.

Awards and Public Art

Yininmadyemi' - Thou didst let fall in Hyde Park, Sydney

In 2014, Tony Albert won a big award called the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award. He won for his artwork We can be Heroes. This artwork was inspired by an event in 2012 involving two Aboriginal teenagers. It was the first time a photograph had won this important art prize.

In 2015, the City of Sydney asked Tony Albert to create a public artwork. This artwork is called Yininmadyemi - Thou didst let fall. You can see it in Hyde Park, Sydney. It is a special memorial to honor Aboriginal people who served in the military. The artwork features four large bullet shapes and shell casings standing upright. Tony Albert was also a finalist for the Archibald Prize in 2016 and 2017.

Exhibitions and Collections

Tony Albert's art has been shown in many places. He has had nine solo exhibitions, where only his work was displayed. He has also been part of over fifty group exhibitions with other artists.

In June 2024, two of his large artworks were shown in Melbourne. These were Crop Circles In Yoga #5 and BEAM ME UP The Art of Abduction. They were part of 'The Blak Infinite' program at the 2024 RISING: festival.

His artworks are also kept in important art collections.

• National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Melbourne