Collections
Our collections are a source of enjoyment, knowledge and inquiry.
The University of Western Australia Art Collection
The University of Western Australia Art Collection is one of the State’s most significant public art collections and among the most highly regarded university collections in Australia. Since its establishment in 1927, it has grown to encompass more than 3,000 artworks spanning painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture.
The Collection is renowned for its exceptional holdings of Australian modernist paintings that were considered daring, experimental and forward-looking at the time they were acquired by the University. That spirit of bold innovation continues to shape the development of the Collection today, underpinned by a strong commitment to nationally significant contemporary artists whose practices demonstrate artistic excellence and critical engagement. The Collection also has a strong representation of artists who have lived and worked in Western Australia, a focus that will continue to guide its future development.
The UWA Art Collection enriches the cultural life of the Crawley campus through thought-provoking exhibitions and engaging public programs that support research, learning and critical enquiry for students, staff and the broader community. Through these activities, the Collection serves as a dynamic site for research, dialogue and creative exchange within the University and beyond.
Helen Grey-Smith, Apples, 1976, acrylic on composition board, 58 x 44cm, The University of Western Australia Art Collection, Acquired with the assistance of the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council, 1977 © The University of Western Australia, photograph by Robert Firth
Erica McGilchrist, The Abandoned (Kew Mental Hospital), 1954, oil on board, 92 x 69 cm, CCWA 974. Cruthers Collection of Women's Art, The University of Western Australia. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Phillip Boulten. © courtesy the artist’s estate.
Cruthers Collection of Women's Art (CCWA)
The Cruthers Collection of Women’s Art (CCWA) is Australia’s largest public collection of women’s art.
The Collection is founded upon a substantial gift made by Sir James and Lady Sheila Cruthers to The University of Western Australia in 2007. Sheila Cruthers and her son, John, began collecting women’s art in the 1970s, focusing on portraiture and self-portraiture. It is an eclectic collection, spanning works from the 1890s to the present day. It continues to develop to reflect contemporary women’s art practice as well as making visible lesser-known artists from the past.
The CCWA includes well-known historical figures such as Clarice Beckett, Elise Blumann and Clara Southern; contemporary artists including Penny Bovell, Sarah Contos, Rosella Namok and Sangeeta Sandrasegar; and lesser-known artists including Stella Dilger, Leanne Emmitt and Lola Ryan.
Berndt Museum
Founded in 1976, the Berndt Museum is The University of Western Australia’s major collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture. Additionally, the museum houses materials from the Asia-Pacific region, including items from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, India and Korea.
Established as a research museum based on Professor Ronald and Dr Catherine Berndt's fieldwork, the museum quickly expanded to encompass materials from many anthropologists affiliated with the University, as well as other local and global institutions. The collection consists of more than 12,000 objects, 35,000 photographs, film and sound recordings, and multiple archives. It is considered to be one of the most significant collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and cultural material globally, with materials included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
The Berndt Museum embraces a collaborative approach to research and engagement, working closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as a part of its projects and programs. The museum also organises biannual exhibitions that explore multifaceted narratives of culture, histories and experiences.
George Mung Mung (1921 – 1991) Gija. Untitled 1988, natural pigments and resin on plywood, 90.2 x 60.2 cm. Berndt Museum Collection [1988/0052].