Art Exhibition Features More Than 200 Years of American art

A major exhibition covering more than 200 years of American art and history has opened today at the Art Gallery of NSW as part of the Sydney International Art Series 2013-14.

America: painting a nation features more than 80 works from the mid-18th century to the 1960s by famous American artists, including Jackson Pollock, Georgia O’Keeffe, James McNeil Whistler, Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris, said the Sydney International Art Series, supported by the NSW Government, brings the world’s most outstanding exhibitions exclusively to NSW.

“America: painting a nation is the most expansive survey of American painting ever presented in Australia and the exhibition is exclusive to Sydney at the Art Gallery of NSW,” Mr Souris said.

“The works have come from four major institutions in the USA - The Terra Foundation, Chicago; The Philadelphia Museum of Art; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

“We are expecting visitors from around Australia and from across the Asia Pacific region to travel to NSW to see these exhibitions, here in Australia’s major events capital.”

Since the Sydney International Art Series began in 2010, more than $80 million in new money has been generated for the State and attracted more than one million attendees, with about 100,000 interstate and overseas visitors coming specifically to Sydney to see the exhibitions.

As part of this year’s Sydney International Art Series, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) will also present the first major Australian exhibition by the artist, activist and musician, Yoko Ono.
War Is Over! (if you want it): Yoko Ono will open on Friday, 15 November.

Art Gallery of NSW Director, Dr Michael Brand, said he was pleased to give audiences in Sydney greater access to American art and culture.

“This exhibition will both open a window on the grand narrative of American painting and hold up a mirror against which we can further explore our own art history,” Dr Brand said.

Tickets to the Sydney International Art Series 2013-2014 are now on sale. A special Sydney International Art Pass is also available and will provide discounted entry to both exhibitions.

Photo L to R: Dr Michael Brand, Director, Art Gallery of NSW, Minister Souris, Dr Chris McAuliffe, Curator, America: painting a nation

To purchase Art Pass tickets please visit the Art Gallery of NSW and MCA websites www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au or www.mca.com.au