On Display:The Story of Artbank
On Display celebrates 45 years of Artbank’s unique contribution to Australian contemporary art. Held at Artbank’s Collingwood premises, the exhibition draws from the organisation’s extensive visible storage model and the design language of its new publication to present a vibrant snapshot of a national institution that operates outside the traditional gallery system. Since 1980, Artbank has supported living artists by purchasing and leasing their works to government departments, businesses,and private clients, creating one of Australia’s most accessible and unconventional art collections. Through a selection of key acquisitions and archival materials, On Display explores how Artbank has nurtured creative careers, facilitated cultural engagement and reshaped the presence of contemporary art in everyday life. From emerging voices to established practitioners, the exhibition reflects the diversity and vitality of the national collection, and runs from August 8 to October 10, 2025.
Image credit: Artbank Curator Paul Adair and Collections Officer Katie Tremschnig in the Artbank Melbourne collection store, 2025. Artwork featured is Jemima Wyman, Scapeology (Waterfall), 2005. Photo: Nicole England.
