Gallery gifted art from personal collection

FORTY years ago Dr Graeme Williams OAM moved into a workers’ cottage in Melbourne and collected art to liven the space.

With connections in the metropolitan art scene, he amassed 250 eclectic pieces including oil paintings, watercolours, etchings and ceramics.

Dr Williams secured lots of “gems along the way.” With works by iconic Australian artists like Sidney Nolan, John Brack and Arnold Shore, many of those still living are his personal friends.

But after a near-death experience, he reassessed everything. Now, Dr Williams is donating 49 of the pieces to the Art Gallery of Ballarat, ensuring they’re enjoyed and protected.

“I studied my doctorate of Australian art and cultural history at Federation University, I’ve had relatives live near here, and I didn’t want to give the works to the National Gallery because I figured they wouldn’t appreciate them as much,” he said.

“I want to see them on a wall, and this gives me a sense of having done something important. I dedicate the works to my two children who have passed on, and we will immortalise them in some way by having their names displayed next to the pictures.

“My son was a graphic artist and worked in commercial digital animation. My daughter was a senior detective in organised crime, but I used to buy her a picture every birthday and Christmas.”

On accepting a mix of Dr Williams’ historical and contemporary works, Gallery director Louise Tegart said the institution will begin preparations to exhibit them in 18 months.

“Some of these artists have been on our wish list, like John Wolseley, who is a senior Australian artist based in central Victoria,” she said.

“Graeme’s gift continues the Gallery tradition of being a collection of donated works, and a generosity of spirit.”