The Mordant family gifts major works of art to Newcastle Art Gallery

Date

Monday 30 June, 2025

Words

Articulate PR

Newcastle Art Gallery has announced an incredible gift of 25 works of art from the private collection of Simon Mordant AO and Catriona Mordant AM, the largest number of works of art the leading philanthropists have ever gifted to one institution. This marks a significant moment for Newcastle Art Gallery which is in the final stages of its much-anticipated major expansion, which will see the building double in size.

Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM said: “Having known Simon for several years, I have always admired his and Catriona's incredible support for artists and the broader arts sector globally, so I was quite overwhelmed to be invited to review their collection and select works of art that represented the vision for our reimagined gallery - to be locally grounded, nationally engaged and globally minded.

Such is the significance of this gift that I look forward to sharing it with our community through a special exhibition in 2026 honouring their generosity to Newcastle Art Gallery.”

Simon Mordant AO said: “Catriona and I believe that art should be seen and enjoyed by the widest possible audience. In considering Australian and international institutions to be recipients of part of our Collection, built over almost 40 years, we looked for organisations where we believed in their leadership and their ambition. Newcastle was an obvious choice, and we commend Lauretta and her predecessors who have worked tirelessly to put art at the centre of the community. We very much look forward to seeing these works enjoying a new life in Newcastle Art Gallery.”

The significant acquisition features paintings, photography, textiles, installations, prints and sculptures by Australian and international artists Ian Abdulla, María Fernanda Cardoso, Brent Harris, Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro, Janet Laurence, Hiroyuki Kita, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Jamie North, Raquel Ormella, Sangeeta Sandrasegar, Tim Silver, Gemma Smith, Yuken Teruya, Brendan Van Hek and John Young.

Works include Make Out (Shadow Box 8) (2009) by Mexican-Canadian media artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, an interactive digital work featuring thousands of internet videos of couples who turn from looking at each other to kissing the moment the viewer steps in front, introducing the idea of surveillance, and questioning what is public and private; Liquid green (2003), a significant piece in the catalogue of environmental artist Janet Laurence whose work critically observes how the world is affected by human action in the age of the Anthropocene; and two works on paper by Ngarrindjeri artist Ian Abdulla, known for his vivid paintings depicting his childhood memories on the Murray River in the Riverland region of South Australia, the first works by this significant artist to be held in the Newcastle collection.

Newcastle Art Gallery’s collection is recognised as one of the finest in Australia, consisting of over 7,000 works of art valued at $145 million. The reimagined gallery designed by award-winning architects Clare Design, in collaboration with Smith and Tzannes Architects and Arup Engineers, more than doubles the footprint with an additional 1,600 square metres of exhibition space, enabling Newcastle Art Gallery to present permanent displays of its world-class collection for the first time, alongside ambitious temporary exhibitions and programs.

Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM said: “Since the current building opened in 1977 our collection has grown by over 500 per cent, but until now, the Gallery's physical space hasn’t increased. The new reimagined Newcastle Art Gallery will enable more of our incredible collection and much-loved icons to be on display, allowing us to share them with our visitors. We look forward to providing a first look at the expanded Gallery from 26 September this year, in line with the launch of the New Annual Festival, a ten-day program of art, culture and creativity in the centre of Newcastle.”

A series of major new commissions will be installed across the site, including two groundbreaking sculptures by internationally renowned artist Fayen d'Evie; a six-metre-high suspended sculpture made up of 30 cast aluminium fish by seventh generation Novocastrian and proud Awabakal descendant Shellie Smith; and a large-scale window commission by Newcastle-based artist Maggie Hensel-Brown.

First Nations culture will be celebrated at the heart of the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery with the acquisition of the significant work Kinyingarra Guwinyanba (Off Country) (2022) by internationally acclaimed Quandamooka artist Megan Cope, featuring 44 poles adorned with a bouquet of rock oyster shells, which will be suspended within the new central atrium of the gallery.

The reimagined Newcastle Art Gallery will unveil its major exhibition Iconic Loved Unexpected in early 2026 presenting national icons, well-loved favourites and unexpected gems from the collection across ceramics, painting, photography, drawing, sculpture and video, celebrating the extraordinary breadth of the gallery’s nationally recognised collection.

Further information on the upcoming program will be announced soon.

ABOUT NEWCASTLE ART GALLERY

Newcastle Art Gallery is locally grounded, nationally engaged and globally minded. The gallery holds one of the most significant collections in regional Australia consisting of over 7,000 works of art valued at $145 million.

Newcastle Art Gallery champions artists with its world-class permanent collection and ground-breaking temporary exhibitions. Its enriching education and public programs offer audiences rewarding exchanges with artists and deeper engagement with art. Its mission is to lead the conversations as the cultural hub of the Hunter Region at a time of radical growth and exciting transformation.

Newcastle Art Gallery is owned and operated by City of Newcastle. It is supported by the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation, Newcastle Art Gallery Society, NSW Government through Create NSW and the University of Newcastle.

ABOUT THE NEWCASTLE ART GALLERY EXPANSION PROJECT

Newcastle Art Gallery has been at the heart of the city’s rich arts and cultural history for more than 68 years. The expansion project will deliver an additional 1,600 square meters of exhibition space, with dedicated areas for the Art Gallery's collection on the lower level, while the upper level will cater for a variety of travelling exhibitions, including international shows.

The project will also deliver a new café and retail shop, multi-purpose and educational program spaces and a secure international standard loading dock.

The project is supported by $5 million from the Australian Government under the Regional Recovery Partnerships and $5 million from the New South Wales Government under the Regional Recovery Package, as well as $12 million from the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation made possible through the Valerie and John Ryan bequest, Margaret Olley Trust, and community fundraising over many years. A further $1 million is currently being sought through the Foundation's public fundraising campaign.