Australian Art: A History

'Grishin presents a story that is multilayered in its complexity and detail. [His book] at once broadens the scope of our national art and draws together these diverse strands into a compelling narrative. Above all it is a lively and insightful account of the diversity and richness of artistic endeavour of this country.'—Tony Ellwood, Director, National Gallery of Victoria

Sasha Grishin is a leading Australian art historian, art critic and curator who has published some twenty books and over two thousand articles on various aspects of art. This book is his magnum opus, a comprehensive and definitive history of Australian art. Lavishly illustrated and meticulously researched, Australian Art: A History provides an overview of the major developments in Australian art, from its origins to the present. The book commences with ancient Aboriginal rock art and early colonialists' interpretations of their surroundings, and moves on to discuss the formation of an Australian identity through art, the shock of early modernism and the notorious Heide circle. It finishes with the popular recognition of modern Indigenous art and contemporary Australian art and its place in the world. A major emphasis is placed on the art of the past fifty years, when both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian art have received widespread international acclaim. All major expressions of visual culture in Australia are addressed, including painting, sculpture, graphic arts, photography, applied arts, installation art and digital art.

Emeritus Professor Sasha Grishin AM, FAHA established the academic discipline of Art History at the Australian National University and until December 2013 was the Sir William Dobell Professor of Art History and Head of Art History at the ANU in Canberra. Professor Grishin studied art history at the universities of Melbourne, Moscow, London and Oxford and has served several terms as visiting scholar at Harvard University. He works internationally as an art historian, art critic and curator. In 2004 he was elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, in 2005 he was awarded the Order of Australia for services to Australian art and art history and in 2008 was awarded a Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning. He has published twenty-five books and more than two thousand articles dealing with various aspects of art.