New York's Met targets Brisbane for exclusive exhibition

Arts Minister Rod Welford today announced New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art had singled out the Queensland Art Gallery to host its world exclusive exhibition American Impressionism and Realism: A landmark exhibition from the Met.

Mr Welford said The Met, regarded as the most prestigious art museum in the world, had offered the Gallery more than 70 impressionist and realist paintings by some of America’s foremost artists for the exhibition.

“This exhibition is the latest in an increasingly long list of impressive cultural events that have been secured by Queensland,” Mr Welford said.

“The Met has offered American Impression and Realism solely to the Queensland Art Gallery for the exhibition from 30 May – 20 September 2009. It will not be seen anywhere else in the world.

“The exhibition follows the hugely successful Picasso & his Collection and Andy Warhol exhibitions at the Gallery of Modern Art, both also exclusive to Queensland, and will further cement the state’s growing reputation for hosting international arts events.

“Next year’s cultural calendar is looking very exciting already with the legendary Paris Opera Ballet’s only Australian performances of the classic La Bayadere taking place in June in the newly-refurbished Queensland Performing Arts Centre.”

Queensland Art Gallery Director Tony Ellwood said major paintings by American artists such as James Abbott McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Childe Hassam, William Merritt-Chase, Maurice Prendergast and Mary Cassatt would be complemented by more than 30 iconic Australian paintings in the exhibition.

“Artistic developments, including French Impressionism and the introduction of everyday life as subject matter, had a powerful impact on American artists of this time and also on a generation of Australian painters,’ Mr Ellwood said.

“This exhibition will provide a rare opportunity to see the synergies between our two cultures during a period of rapid artistic and social change. The Australian artists whose work will feature include Tom Roberts, Charles Conder, Frederick McCubbin and Rupert Bunny.”

American Impressionism and Realism: A landmark exhibition from the Met will be curated by H. Barbara Weinberg, the Alice Pratt Brown Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000