Two further appointments have been made to the National Gallery of Australia Council. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The Federal Government has made two further appointments of highly acclaimed and well-regarded artists to the National Gallery of Australia Council, with one being a renewal of tenure.
The government has reappointed Sally Scales and has appointed Ben Quilty as members of the council, both for three-year terms.
The council is responsible for overseeing the National Gallery’s strategic and organisational goals (as mandated by the National Gallery Act 1975) and positioning it for the future so it can continue to deliver on its aim to “inspire all Australians through art”.
Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke said the two renowned artists’ insights would help guide the council’s direction.
“I’d like to thank Sally for returning as a member to the council, her expertise will continue to be a great asset to the council,” the Minister said.
“I’d also like to welcome Ben to the council. Visitors to the National Gallery will be familiar with Ben’s works on the walls and they can take comfort that his voice as an artist will be helping guide the council’s decisions.”
Mr Quilty is an Australian artist known for his expressive impasto-style oil paintings.
He has won numerous awards for his art including the Archibald Prize in 2011 for his portrait of artist Margaret Olley, the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2009 for his portrait of musician Jimmy Barnes and the Prudential Eye Awards in 2014 for emerging artists from Greater Asia.
In 2011, Mr Quilty was commissioned by the Australian War Memorial to travel to Afghanistan with the Australian Defence Force as an official war artist to record and interpret the experience of Australian service personnel.
He is also a member of the board of Ngununggula in Bowral in regional NSW which showcases a diverse range of Australian and international contemporary art.
Ms Scales is a First Nations’ artist, cultural consultant and spokesperson from Pipalyatjara in the far west of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in remote South Australia.
She has worked for the APY Art Centre Collective since 2013 and during her time has been instrumental in the opening of APY galleries across Australia.
She was part of the youth leadership team for the Uluru Statement reform, having been involved in the Referendum Council’s Constitution regional dialogues in Ross River, Adelaide and the national convention in Uluru in 2017.
Since then, Ms Scales has been involved with the Uluru Dialogue leadership.
She won the People’s Choice Award at the 2021 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
In 2022, Ms Scales was a finalist for the Roberts Family Award, part of the Wynne Landscape prize for her work Wati Tjakura and was a finalist again for the NATSIAA’s. Ms Scales is represented by N Smith Gallery.
Ms Scales is also an independent elected board member of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and on the Bangarra Dance Theatre board.
The council ensures the Gallery effectively serves the Australian public by managing its collections and activities and members are chosen for their diverse perspectives and their knowledge in visual arts, governance, building and cultural sectors.
