Artbank Chronicles 45 Years of Australian Art in Major Publication

On Display: The story of Artbank, Australia’s most visible art collection offers the first comprehensive chronicle of the groundbreaking federal program that has shaped Australia’s contemporary art landscape since 1980.

Artbank represents one of Australia’s most significant cultural achievements, with over 11,000 works by more than 3,500 artists from across the country. Recently valued at $47 million, the collection spans the full spectrum of Australian art and often provides emerging artists with their first public collection acquisition.

The program’s innovative model of acquiring and leasing artworks has brought art into homes, offices and public institutions nationwide, with more than half the collection on loan at any given time. This unique approach has made Artbank Australia’s most visible art collection while providing ongoing support to living Australian artists.

The publication traces Artbank’s evolution from its 1980 inception to the present day through detailed historical narrative, rich artwork imagery, client displays, archival material, and personal reflections from artists, gallerists, and clients. The book serves as both a historical record and a celebration of the program’s impact on Australian cultural life.

To mark the book’s launch, Artbank will present two free exhibitions at its Melbourne and Sydney premises that bring the publication’s themes to life.

On Display (Melbourne, August 8 – October 10) features works by 26 notable Australian artists including Sidney Nolan, Jeffrey Smart, Margaret Olley, Emily Kam Kngwarray, Patricia Piccinini, Howard Arkley, Emma Buswell and Jean Barth. The exhibition demonstrates the breadth and quality of works that have defined Artbank’s collection over four decades.

Art Text/Text Art (Sydney, August 28 – October 24) continues the theme of Australian storytelling through text and image. Curated by founding Curator James Kenny and current Curator Oliver Watts, the exhibition features artists including Ian W. Abdulla, Darcey Bella Arnold, Chayni Henry, Heather Koowootha, Michael Lindeman, Alisdair McLuckie and Tom Polo.

The book and exhibitions highlight Artbank’s dual mission of supporting Australian artists while democratizing access to contemporary art. By placing works in everyday environments rather than traditional gallery spaces, the program has fundamentally changed how Australians encounter and engage with art.

As Artbank enters its fifth decade, On Display serves as both a celebration of past achievements and a blueprint for the program’s continued evolution in supporting Australia’s dynamic arts community.