The University of Tasmania Fine Art Collection was established in the late 1960s when staff and students expressed a desire for artworks to be hung in the new Humanities building. A committee was formed with the goal of providing educational and cultural stimulation for the campus. A gallery was established where Lazenby’s now sits, and the group began to acquire artworks and run an exhibitions program.

With the move of the Tasmanian School of Art to the University, the fledgling Collection entered a new period of growth. A dedicated acquisitions budget enabled the University to purchase artworks of significance with an emphasis on contemporary Australian art. Bequests and gifts were used to fund the acquisitions, and the Collection benefited from loans of valuable and significant work. Donations through the Cultural Gifts Program continue to add to the breadth of the Collection.

In particular, The Wharmby Bequest has enabled the acquisition of significant contemporary artwork through the gift of funds by Marion E Wharmby in 1996. Fiona Hall, Hossein Valamanesh, and Elizabeth Gower are among the 70 artists so far represented in this bequest.

It is University policy to have as many artworks as possible on public display for the enjoyment of staff, students, and the general public. The art is dispersed throughout the University in buildings and outdoors - in effect a changing exhibition with multiple venues. There is no longer a gallery exclusively for the Collection, but, on all three campuses of the University, the display of Collection artworks is an important part of the environment. Many artworks are accessible to the public through regular opening hours and by appointment. On occasion, artworks from the Collection are also lent to other institutions for major exhibitions both here and on the mainland.

The University Collection comprises contemporary art: paintings, photographs, works on paper, glass, pottery, ceramics, and sculpture. There are approximately 3000 objects with an emphasis on Australian artists, particularly Tasmanian. 

Two discrete Collections are housed within the Fine Art Collection –

The Carington Smith Collection is a group of about 500 works by distinguished artist and ex-Head of the School of Art, Jack Carington Smith. Mostly acquired by the University in 1986, it is made up largely of sketches, studies, and watercolours. 

The Tyler Collection bequeathed by Frances and Geoffrey Tyler in 2013 consists predominantly of Romanian artwork from 1970-85, a private collection amassed by Geoffrey Tyler during his role with the IMF in Europe while Romania was still under Communist rule. It also contains Russian, Greek, and Romanian icons, sculptures, and some contemporary European and American work.

As we look to the future, planning is underway for the Collection to go online, which will increase greatly its accessibility and appreciation. A dedicated professional gallery space is also an aspiration. 

The Fine Art Collection demonstrates the University’s ongoing commitment to the patronage and advancement of the visual arts in Australia. Through it, the University aims to foster appreciation and understanding of the visual arts both on campus and amongst the wider community. 

About the author: Rachael Rose, BFA 2002 Master of Fine Art and Design 2004, is the Registrar and Keeper of the University of Tasmania’s Fine Art Collection. In this role, she manages a collection of approximately 3,000 artworks across the University’s three campuses. She also maintains a printmaking practice.