The Australian Government has announced the reappointment of Sally Scales and the appointment of Ben Quilty as members of the National Gallery of Australia Council. Both will serve three-year terms. Their roles involve overseeing the gallery’s strategic and organizational objectives, ensuring it remains a source of inspiration for all Australians through art.
Tony Burke, the Minister for the Arts, expressed his gratitude for Scales’ continued involvement and welcomed Quilty to the Council. He noted, “I’d like to thank Sally for returning as a member to the Council; her expertise will continue to be a great asset. 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.”
Ben Quilty: A Visionary Artist
Ben Quilty is a prominent Australian artist renowned for his expressive impasto-style oil paintings. His accolades include the Archibald Prize in 2011 for his portrait of artist Margaret Olley and the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize in 2009 for his portrait of musician Jimmy Barnes. In addition, he received the Prudential Eye Awards in 2014, recognizing emerging artists from Greater Asia.
Quilty’s contributions extend beyond traditional art; in 2011, he was commissioned by the Australian War Memorial to travel to Afghanistan as an official war artist. His mission was to document the experiences of Australian service personnel. Currently, he serves on the board of Ngununggula, an art space in Bowral, New South Wales, dedicated to showcasing contemporary art.
Sally Scales: Championing Indigenous Art and Culture
Sally Scales is a First Nations artist and cultural consultant from Pipalyatjara, located in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands of remote South Australia. Since 2013, she has been associated with the APY Art Centre Collective, playing a significant role in establishing APY Galleries across Australia.
In 2017, Scales participated in the youth leadership team for the Uluru Statement reform, taking part in regional dialogues and the national convention. Her involvement reflects a commitment to advocating for Indigenous rights and representation. She won the People’s Choice Award at the 2021 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) and was a finalist for the Roberts Family Award in 2022 for her work ‘Wati Tjakura’.
Scales also holds positions as an independent elected board member of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and serves on the board of Bangarra Dance Theatre, further demonstrating her dedication to promoting Indigenous culture and art across various platforms.
The appointments of Quilty and Scales are expected to enrich the National Gallery of Australia Council’s guidance and strategic direction, enhancing its mission to inspire and connect with a diverse audience through the medium of art.
