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Visual arts

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On the left, a book cover with a light grey background, a painting of an older man, paint splatters, and text reading 'Tom McIlroy',' Blue Poles' and 'Jackson Pollock, Gough Whitlam and the painting that changed a nation'
Book launch: Blue Poles by Tom McIlroy

Journalist Tom McIlroy discussed his book 'Blue Poles'.

Event
Video
Collection guide
Blackman Collection

Oral history recordings by Barbara Blackman, mostly of Australian painters, sculptors, potters and others concerned with the visual arts.

Collection guide
Portrait of Nora Heysen sitting at a desk and painting

Harold Cazneaux, Portrait of Nora Heysen at work,1939, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145509450 

Australian artists in the Second World War

Explore 2 different examples of artistic responses to the Second World War. 

Blog
A tapestry titled 'Finding Kenneth Myer'

John Young, John Dicks, Milena Paplinska, Cheryl Thornton (weavers), Finding Kenneth Myer 2011, wool and cotton; 230 x 302cm, Special Collections Reading Room

Artwork in the Special Collections Reading Room

The Special Collections Reading Room houses art relating to Australian history and culture in the post-colonial era, focusing on modern Australian people and places.

Information article
Three colourful tapestry panels depicting Australian landscapes hung in the main reading room

Alice Kettle (b.1961), Australian Landscapes I–IV 2000 ca.1998 ; 4 machine-embroidered tapestries, Main Reading Room

Artwork in the Main Reading Room

The Main Reading Room houses a collection of sculptures and paintings inspired by Indigenous stories of the Australian landscape.

Information article
Lintel Sculpture above the National Library's main entrance doors

Loui Seselja, Bas relief over the entrance doors of the National Library of Australia, Canberra, 2004, nla.obj-131049918

Artwork in the foyer, exterior and grounds

The National Library has a large collection of sculptures built into and around the building, and beautiful tapestries hanging in our foyer.

Information article
A calm river snakes into the distance, with green grass on one side and trees on the other

George French Angas (artist) and James William Giles (lithographer), The River Murray, near Lake Alexandrina, 1847, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135637342

Angas Collection

Paintings, drawings, sketchbooks and manuscripts by George French Angas.

Collection guide
An author with white hair and glasses holds a copy of 'Mr Badger and the Boubles Grand Hotel' while standing next to a large illustration of a cartoon badger, with a split image on the right showing the cover of 'Mr Chicken goes to Paris' by Leigh Hobbs, featuring a grumpy yellow chicken on a Parisian landmark.
Adult's Workshop: Creating a character in words and pictures with Leigh Hobbs

Older audiences (14+) are invited to join Leigh Hobbs – author, artist, and creator of the Old Tom, Horrible Harriet, Mr Badger and Mr Chicken books, for an exciting, hands-on workshop.

Event
painting of small house in the Australian bush

Atkinson, Robert, 1863-1896. (1889). Sheedy's Castle, Balmoral Beach [picture] / Robt. Atkinson. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135211215

A Nation Imagined: The artists of the Picturesque Atlas

Module

This resource is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Visual Arts for Year 9 and 10 students. It adopts an inquiry approach to develop students’ skills as art historians.

Digital Classroom

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