World Exclusive Exhibition Opens In Brisbane

World Exclusive Exhibition Opens in Brisbane

Premier and Arts Minister Anna Bligh has opened a world-exclusive exhibition of American paintings from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in the refurbished Queensland Art Gallery (QAG).

Ms Bligh said this was the first time the 71 paintings in American Impressionism and Realism: A Landmark Exhibition from the Met, have been shown in an exhibition together.

"This is one of the biggest international loans ever made by the Met," she said.

"It is an honour and a wonderful contribution to this year's Q150 celebrations for QAG to be the only gallery in the world to show this landmark exhibition.

"These paintings are icons of American art. They have sent us the best they have got and I encourage every Queenslander to come along and have a look.

"The Met exhibition takes up five major gallery spaces, making it the largest show seen in QAG since it opened in 1982.

"My government funded the refurbishment of these areas to install new flooring, display walls and lighting systems, and ensure it was ready for this prestigious exhibition."

American Impressionism and Realism includes 101 paintings, with 71 works by 34
leading American artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The exhibition also includes 30 Australian works donated from museums such as National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Victoria and Art Gallery of Ballarat. There are also seven works included from QAG's collection.

"This exhibition is the latest major cultural event secured by Queensland and follows the hugely successful Picasso & his Collection and Andy Warhol exhibitions," Ms Bligh said.

"Last year Picasso & his collection at GoMA was a major success attracting more than 200,000, while the Andy Warhol exhibition in 2007 attracted 232,000. According to The Art Newspaper, the world's most respected art trade publication, Queenslanders are visiting art galleries in world-beating numbers, with these exhibitions in the top 200 most-visited exhibitions across the world in 2008.

"I am sure this new exhibition will be just as popular and my Government will continue to work with Queensland Events Corporation to present world-class displays of Australian and international art."

Curated by H Barbara Weinberg, Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the exhibition has been made possible due to the renovation of The Metropolitan Museum's American Wing.

Queensland Art Gallery Director Tony Ellwood said the exhibition featured paintings by Impressionists John Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase, Realists John Sloan and William Glackens, and works by James McNeill Whistler and Winslow Homer.

The exhibition was organised by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, QAG and Art Exhibitions Australia. Go to www.qag.qld.gov.au/the_met for information on the exhibition, The Met Up Late, film programs, ticketing and visitor packages. Admission fees apply.

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SOURCE: Queensland Art Gallery