Tony Albert facts for kids

Tony Albert (born in 1981) is a modern Australian artist. He uses many different art forms. These include painting, photography, and mixed media. His art often explores important parts of Aboriginal and Australian history. He also looks at "Aboriginalia," which are often old, sometimes silly, objects that show Aboriginal culture.

About Tony Albert

Early Life and Education

Tony Albert was born in 1981 in Townsville, North Queensland. He grew up in a place with a rich history. In 2004, he finished his studies at the Queensland College of Art in Brisbane. He earned a degree in Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art. Tony's family comes from Cardwell, Queensland. He is a descendant of the Girramay, Yidinji, and Kuku-Yalanji peoples.

ProppaNOW Art Group

Tony Albert helped start an art group called ProppaNOW in 2004. This group was for Indigenous artists living in cities. Other artists in ProppaNOW included Richard Bell, Jennifer Herd, Vernon Ah Kee, Fiona Foley, Bianca Beetson, and Andrea Fisher. They worked together to share their art and ideas.

Tony Albert's Artworks

Using Words in Art

Like some other artists, Tony Albert often uses words in his art. This helps him tell stories and share messages. One of his artworks is called Headhunter (2007). It is an installation, which means it's a collection of objects put together. This piece shows how Aboriginal people were sometimes seen as objects in the past. It highlights a time when real connections with Aboriginal people were rare.

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

Awards and Special Projects

Winning Art Prizes

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

In 2014, Tony Albert won a big award. He took first prize in the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award. His winning artwork was called We can be Heroes. He created this piece after two Aboriginal teenagers were shot by police in Kings Cross in 2012. It was the first time a photograph had won this important art prize.

Public Art in Sydney

In 2015, the City of Sydney asked Tony Albert to create a special artwork. This public art piece is called Yininmadyemi - Thou didst let fall. You can see it in Hyde Park, Sydney. This artwork is a memorial to Aboriginal military history. It features four large, upright bullets and shell casings. It reminds people of the brave Aboriginal soldiers. Tony Albert was also a finalist for the Archibald Prize in 2016 and 2017.

Exhibitions and Collections

Where His Art Has Been Shown

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

In June 2024, some of Tony Albert's works were shown in Melbourne. His pieces Crop Circles In Yoga #5 and BEAM ME UP The Art of Abduction were part of 'The Blak Infinite' program. This was at the 2024 RISING: festival in Federation Square.

Where His Art Is Kept

Tony Albert's artworks are part of important art collections. One place where his art is kept is the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne.