Artbank: 45 years of investing in Australian art
Celebrating its 45th anniversary, Artbank’s continues to uplift Australian contemporary art to the benefit of both artists and art lovers.
Left to right by: John Mawurndujul Pat Bassington, Bronwyn Oliver, Patricia Piccinini
Honey Long: Body Orbit 2015
Graeme Altmann: Low Tide II
During Melbourne’s Open House 2025 I was like a kid in a candy store, among visitors sliding out racks of salon-hung works, all safely stored at Artbank. An exhibition continuously in motion, each rack revealed new gems. In discovering (often early) works from now renowned Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian artists, I found myself learning a little about the institution and its ambition too.
An arm of the Australian Government Office for the Arts, Artbank has a unique way of promoting contemporary Australian artists. Artworks are curated to be enjoyed serendipitously, outside the prestige of a museum or gallery. They are leased to everyday locations, an offering to the broader public’s eye. The collection of over 10,000 works can be found in corporate offices, government buildings, private homes or — providing an accelerated path to international recognition for artists — on the walls of embassies in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Annual fees cycle from payment of one artwork, to reinvestment in the next, supporting Artbank’s expanding collection and curatorial capacity.
As a collector, Artbank has a unique emphasis on being at the frontline, seeking out emerging and mid-career artists, providing a dose of validation and exposure when it’s needed most. The curatorial team keeps their eyes peeled across primary market sources, from commercial galleries and prizes to art centres. They also wade through submissions from artists, offering a direct line to those otherwise unrepresented.
On the 8 August 2025 (until October) Artbank Melbourne’s exhibition space brought to life a 45-year anniversary exhibition. Featuring the likes of Howard Arkley, Pat Bassington, Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori and Patricia Piccinini, selected works represent the breadth of the collection that has now been compiled into a celebratory publication, launched on the night. The exhibition hints at the leg-up Artbank has given many of Australia’s now most famous internationally recognised artists, and the value in investing in arts programs through sustained, decades-long government support.
So, what will the next 45 years hold? A nod to its evolving relevance, Artbank is collaborating with Melbourne International Film Festival, with sculptural works on show at cinemas in a cross-pollination of cultural talents.
With one hand, Artbank heroes artists who may otherwise struggle to emerge in a competitive and sometimes luck-based industry. With the other, it extends the reach of art by gifting it to the public who may otherwise never think to seek it out. Harnessing art’s ability to garner boldness and empathy, Artbank’s role remains crucial in showcasing thought-provoking joys from contemporary Australian artists.