1. Precinct
  2. Art

Art

  • Sally Smart: “First Commissions takes our artists to the world”

    Ahead of the First Commissions exhibition in Melbourne on 27 and 28 July, multidisciplinary artist – and Vice-Chancellors Professorial Fellow of the University of Melbourne – Sally Smart tells Mireille Stahle about the “commission” that launched her career, and how Australian artists are turning their gaze to the rest of the world. The one thing that's critical for a young artist …

    July 24, 2019 VCA Art, First ...
  • Southbank Campus to open for Open House Melbourne

    Open House Melbourne visitors can be among the first to see the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music's new world-class spaces at Southbank on 27 and 28 July, as part of a broader Open House Melbourne program at the University of Melbourne....

    July 16, 2019 VCA, MCM, Open ...
  • Bill Henson: “There is no formula for how creativity unfolds”

    Bill Henson is one of Australia's best-known contemporary photographers – but it was not always thus. As the First Commissions art project launches ahead of an exhibition in Melbourne on 27 and 28 July, he tells Mireille Stahle about his early years as an artist. ...

    July 10, 2019 Alumni, First C...
  • First Commissions art project launches in Florence

    A major Australian arts project presented by the University of Melbourne has been launched at the feet of Michelangelo’s David, the world’s most famous statement on physical perfection, ahead of exhibitions in Florence and Melbourne this month....

    July 4, 2019 Alumni, Interna...
  • VCA alumni stories: Janno McLaughlin, artist

    After many years living between New York and Argentina, artist Janno McLaughlin completed a Master of Contemporary Art at the VCA in 2018. She paints and writes stories about hope, optimism, resilience and loss, and uses her art practice to highlight the plight of the most fragile in our community....

    May 1, 2019 VCA, Alumni, VC...
  • Lin Onus: eternal landscape of the artist’s mind

    A new exhibition at the University of Melbourne celebrates the work and ongoing influence of the late Yorta Yorta artist Lin Onus. ...

    April 9, 2019 VCA, Margaret L...
  • Meet Giulia Giannini McGauran, VCA Art graduate and photographer

    VCA alumna Giulia McGauran wanted to be a nurse, studied drawing, and works now as a photographer. Here she tells us about her artistic inspirations, favourite shoots from the past year, and what she'd do with a million dollars. By Susanna Ling Hi Giulia, how did you end up at the VCA? I always thought I would be a nurse, but I was …

    February 25, 2019 VCA, Alumni, Vi...
  • What is Interactive Composition at the University of Melbourne?

    It defies easy definition, but those who have had anything to do with Interactive Composition at The Faculty of Fine Arts and Music know its value. It's a course for innovators, creators, collaborators and ground-breakers. When Interactive Composition graduates leave the University, they go into the world and make their mark....

    January 14, 2019 VCA, MCM, Music...
  • Curating A Life: Professor Natalie King

    This year, curator and writer Professor Natalie King was recognised by the Australian Financial Review as part of their 100 Women of Influence awards for her contribution to arts, culture and sport. In this interview, first published on Pursuit, she explains more....

    December 13, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • In Pictures: VCA Art Masters Exhibition 2018

    Graduating students from the Master of Contemporary Art and Master of Fine Art (Visual Art) have transformed the Margaret Lawrence Gallery and the VCA Art Studios for The Masters Exhibition (which runs until 9 December).The exhibition celebrates the students' artistic imagination, extensive theoretical knowledge and mastery of practical and technological skills. Photographer Drew Echberg documented the opening night festivities....

    December 6, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • Tiriki Onus: five questions for the Acting Head of the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development at the University of Melbourne

    The Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, percentage-wise, has the highest number of Indigenous students of any faculty at any university in Victoria, and now there are plans to rename campus paths and walkways with local Indigenous place names. Acting Head of the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development, Tiriki Onus, tells us more. ...

    December 3, 2018 VCA, MCM, Indig...
  • Flamingos, giants, and School of Rock: backstage with VCA Production students

    Without sound designers, stage managers, and set and costume designers, many stage, screen and music performances would never get off the ground. We spoke to three graduating Production students about their profession, philosophies, favourite projects, and what's on the horizon for next year....

    November 27, 2018 VCA, Student st...
  • Artist Moorina Bonini on the reclamation of cultural identity

    Graduating VCA Visual Art Honours student Moorina Bonini discusses her work The Other Reclaims, exhibited in The Stables as part of the 2018 VCA Art Graduate Exhibition....

    November 27, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • Indigenous artist Yhonnie Scarce wins prestigious RAKA Award

    Victorian College of the Arts Lecturer Yhonnie Scarce has been named the 2018 Kate Challis RAKA Award recipient for her contribution to the visual arts using blown glass....

    November 23, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • Explainer: what is artistic research?

    The role of artistic researchers is not to describe their work – it's something else entirely....

    November 20, 2018 Research, Expla...
  • In Pictures: Folio Live

    Over five evenings in November, Interactive Composition students from the University of Melbourne took over Grant Street Theatre with collaborative sound and media works which incorporating sound with film, animation, dance, theatre, installation, visual art, production, songwriting and performance. Here are some highlights from Folio Live 2018 by photographer Sav Schulman....

    November 12, 2018 Theatre, Dance,...
  • Five questions for Dr Kate Just, Graduate Coursework Coordinator (Visual Art), University of Melbourne

    Dr Kate Just is an award-winning contemporary artist and academic who has worked extensively with representations of the body, feminism, and queer arts theory and practice. As part of our ongoing Staff Stories, she tells us about what's important to her and what she loves about her work....

    November 7, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • Jon Cattapan becomes the first artist to test a new edition-making initiative at the VCA

    A new edition-making initiative will see visiting artists creating work at the recently refurbished Victorian College of the Arts Print Workshop....

    October 12, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • Arts explainer: what is social practice?

    We hear a lot about social practice in the arts, but what actually is it? We asked course coordinator of the University of Melbourne's new Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Social Practice and Community Engagement Dr Danny Butt....

    October 5, 2018 Research, Wilin...
  • Podcast: Professor Sally Smart, “The power of artists is extraordinary”

    The Expert Hack Podcast sat down with Victorian College of the Arts alumna artist Professor Sally Smart to discuss how artists are influencing politics and social change....

    September 25, 2018 VCA, Alumni, Vi...
  • A tour of Melbourne’s Arts Precinct and the people who make it

    The reimagining of Melbourne's Southbank is a source of disruption, possibility and hope for the people and organisations of the Arts Precinct. ...

    September 21, 2018 Film and Televi...
  • An interview with Yandell Walton, resident artist in the VCA’s PHASMID Studio, Berlin

    Melbourne artist Yandell Walton's work interacts with its environment in complex ways. So what effect will being in Berlin have on her practice?...

    August 27, 2018 VCA, Alumni, VC...
  • Watch VCA Greats: Patricia Piccinini

    In 2015, Patricia Piccinini’s ComCiência in Rio De Janeiro was the most visited contemporary art exhibition in the world. Patricia Piccinini is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts where she is now Melbourne Enterprise Professor of Visual Art....

    August 13, 2018 Visual Art, Exh...
  • How to digitally render Ned Kelly as a woman going to a ball

    In this video, as part of our ongoing How To series, VCA Production Lecturer in Design Anna Cordingley demonstrates how to digitally render a costume design. Find out more about Production at the Victorian College of the Arts. See also: How to make an acid dance track with the Roland TB-303. How to create backing tracks with the Boss RC-30 Loop Station. …

    August 7, 2018 VCA, Production...
  • Martyn Myer: ‘A world-class cultural capital needs a world-class arts training faculty’

    Philanthropists come in all shapes and sizes, but for Martyn Myer there's only one approach: roll up your sleeves and don't take no for an answer. ...

    August 6, 2018 Southbank redev...
  • ‘Space of Friendship’: Melbourne Art Fair joins forces with the University of Melbourne

    This year’s Melbourne Art Fair is being held at the University of Melbourne Southbank campus, home of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music and Melbourne’s growing Arts Precinct....

    July 30, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • Letter: Yours Internally

    Director of the Margaret Lawrence Gallery Dr David Sequeira shares his thoughts about Yours Internally, an exhibition of work by Kiron Robinson and Grant Stevens showing from 27 July–25 August ... and possibly gives the Backstreet Boys more poetic and artistic credit than they have enjoyed to date....

    July 26, 2018 Alumni, Researc...
  • Storm in a Petri dish: mixing art and science

    Storm is an interdisciplinary Symposium and Exhibition, co-hosted by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music and the Faculty of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne. We spoke to some of the contributors about their work and the meaningful collaborations art and science can inspire....

    July 16, 2018 Alumni, Researc...
  • Meet Casey Jenkins, Master of Contemporary Art student

    First year Master of Contemporary Art student Casey Jenkins is settling back into university study after spending a lot of time in small but active community art groups. Encouraged and inspired by other students and staff, Casey talks to us about collaborating and creating networks at the Victorian College of the Arts. I’m only in my first year, but so far …

    July 5, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • Southbank’s redesigned Print Workshop – a guided tour at the Victorian College of the Arts

    Printmaker Adrian Kellett has been at the Victorian College of the Arts’ Print Workshop for 19 years – first as a Fine Arts student, and now as Print Workshop Coordinator. He takes Susanna Ling on a walk-through of the newly-refurbished Print Workshops, designed by Hatz Architects....

    June 21, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • Kate Daw, Head of VCA Art, on her vision for artists in Southbank

    She's an internationally-recognised visual artist whose work has featured in group and solo shows since 1992. The former Head of Painting, and recently-announced Head of VCA Art, outlines her vision for teaching, learning and promoting art at the University of Melbourne's Southbank campus....

    June 13, 2018 VCA, Research, ...
  • Five Deadly Questions for Richard Frankland

    Associate Professor Richard Frankland is Head of the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development at the University of Melbourne. He's also a key figure in ongoing talks with the Victorian Government to establish a treaty or treaties to acknowledge the unique position of Aboriginal Australians, and a participant in the Victorian Government's recently-launched Deadly Questions initiative.  ...

    June 8, 2018 Art, Screen, St...
  • Meet Georgie North, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art) Honours student

    Painter Georgie North values strong relationships with her peers and enjoys working in collaborative and public art projects. She speaks with Kelly Southworth about empathy, inspiration, and learning from others. My understanding of art has become more empathetic since starting at the Victorian College of the Arts. Despite differences in approach and practice, there seems to be a common understanding and rapport between artists. I'll …

    June 6, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • Meet the staff: Faculty of Fine Arts and Music

    Dinosaur spirit animals, lurking rulers and miniature chairs – yes, we're an eclectic bunch ... ...

    May 16, 2018 VCA, MCM, Staff...
  • Handing over the reins at The Stables – a new home for the arts in Melbourne’s Southbank

    The University of Melbourne's Faculty of Fine Arts and Music today celebrated the completion of The Stables – a world-class visual arts and performance space in the heart of the city's Arts Precinct.  The former Victoria Police Mounted Branch stables have been transformed into world-class teaching and learning facilities for students of the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Fine Arts and …

    May 11, 2018 VCA, Campus dev...
  • VCA alumna Yvette Coppersmith wins the Archibald Prize 2018

    Visual Art alumna Yvette Coppersmith has been awarded Australia's most distinguished portraiture prize for her self-portrait....

    May 11, 2018 Alumni, Visual ...
  • Welcome to The Stables – a new, world-class arts facility in Melbourne’s Arts Precinct

    The former Victoria Police Mounted Branch stables have been transformed by Kerstin Thompson Architects into world-class teaching and learning facilities for students of the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Fine Arts and Music. Here, lead architect Kerstin Thompson gives us a guided tour.  We found out just before Christmas 2014 that we'd been successful with our submission to be the architects …

    May 11, 2018 Visual Art, Per...
  • Monochromes are so much more than a grey area in visual art

    Artists who engage in contemporary monochrome art practices see themselves as part of a growing lineage – as a new exhibition at the Margaret Lawrence Gallery amply demonstrates. ...

    May 8, 2018 VCA, Research, ...
  • Myuran Sukumaran’s final 72 hours – what GUILTY tells us about the death penalty, and life

    Paper Planes and Van Diemen's Land producer Maggie Miles talks about co-writing and producing a film about the Bali Nine convicted criminal's last days....

    May 2, 2018 VCA, Film and T...
  • Two-minute interview: David Batchelor, artist and writer

    David Batchelor is one of more than 30 artists whose work will feature in Monochrome: Empty & Full at the Margaret Lawrence Gallery in Melbourne in May.  By Sophie Duran Hi David, you began collecting one-sentence statements about the meaning and value of colour in preparation for the 2008 anthology you edited, Colour. Is there one (or a couple) that still stand …

    April 27, 2018 Exhibition, Int...
  • Art of war: where conflict meets creativity

    The relationship between Australia’s military efforts and sanctioned artists dates back to 1918 but, as the nation’s 63rd official war artist explains, there are as many ways to cover combat as there are artistic sensibilities. By Professor Jon Cattapan, VCA Director Vasily Vereshchagin’s 1871 painting The Apotheosis of War shows a pyramid of human skulls on a dying landscape, watched over and picked at …

    April 24, 2018 VCA, Research, ...
  • Vanitas has been nominated for a Webby – vote now

    An immersive art app developed by Victorian College of the Arts lecturer Robert Walton is in the running for the Oscars of the internet.  By Robert Walton, Lecturer in Theatre (Dramaturgy and Directing) at the Victorian College of the Arts Last Tuesday we found out that Vanitas, an art work I created with my colleague Jason Maling for smartphones and cemeteries, has been …

    April 9, 2018 VCA, Theatre, A...
  • Robert Ambrose Cole, Rosslynd Piggott, Angelina Pwerle, Lindy Lee and David Rosetzky in a new exhibition at the Margaret Lawrence Gallery

    In this catalogue essay, Margaret Lawrence Gallery Director Dr David Sequeira sets up the gallery's latest exhibition, In Between: Notions of transition and the intermediate. ...

    February 27, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • Peek into Buxton Contemporary with new director Ryan Johnston

    Walk and talk with the inaugural director of Buxton Contemporary, on the University of Melbourne's Southbank campus, before the gallery opens on 9 March. ...

    February 26, 2018 VCA, Research, ...
  • Doing Feminism: an interview with Professor Anne Marsh

    With feminism and what it means so firmly back on the public agenda, there’s never been a better time to get to grips with its role in art and culture....

    February 14, 2018 VCA, Research, ...
  • An interview with Tom Crago, the artist behind Materials at the NGV Triennial

    He’s the CEO of Australian video game developer Tantalus Media, a restaurant owner, a former triple-jump champion, a PhD candidate … oh, and an artist at the blockbuster NGV Triennial exhibition.   ...

    February 6, 2018 VCA, Research, ...
  • Discover hidden art and artefacts at the University of Melbourne

    The University of Melbourne is home to 32 cultural collections including libraries, prints, rare books and music archives, you just need to know how to find them - now there's help....

    February 5, 2018 VCA, Visual Art...
  • Vale Alun Leach-Jones, distinguished painter and VCA alumnus

    VCA Director Professor Jon Cattapan remembers one of Australia's great abstract artists....

    February 1, 2018 VCA, Alumni, Vi...
  • Artist Kate Daw in conversation

    Kate Daw, Head of Painting at VCA Art, has exhibited nationally and internationally since 1992, and has work in two current Melbourne exhibitions. She speaks with Paul Dalgarno about her life and career to date.

    January 10, 2018 VCA, Alumni, Vi...
  • Watch: How to cast bronze, at the VCA Foundry

    In this, the third in a series of How To videos from the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, VCA Workshop Manager Dr Tim Edwards demonstrates how to cast bronze objects in the Faculty's purpose-built foundry, from start to finish. If you like it, please share! Banner image: Screenshot. See also:  How to do an Australian accent (that doesn’t …

    December 15, 2017 VCA, How to, Vi...

Follow us on social

  • VCA Facebook
  • Conservatorium Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Find us online

  • Faculty of Fine Arts and Music
  • Victorian College of the Arts
  • Melbourne Conservatorium of Music

Precinct

  • All Articles
  • Music
  • Art
  • Stage
  • Screen
  • Alumni
  • Research
  • Student stories
  • All tags
  • What’s on
  • Faculty of Fine Arts and Music
  • Login
  • Site Admin
  • Protected By Akismet