John Conroy has had a long history of personal and professional interest in Australian First Nations art and cultural objects and has been curating a private collection since the 1950s. The art and objects are varied and culturally significant, by known and unknown First Nations artists. Conroy’s generosity has resulted in several significant donations of over 450 objects to date to the State Collection, with another currently under acquisition.
Represented in the collection are ceramic artists like Connie Richards and Christopher Harris from Yarrabah, and unknown artists of Barambah, some of which can be found on display in Fragile and Forever, landscape paintings by Ewald and Oscar Namatjira and Otto Pareroultja and their contemporaries, bark paintings by Roslyn Kemp, prints by Ron Hurley, as well as numerous artworks and cultural items by unnamed ancestors.
The collection represents communities from across Queensland and beyond; Papua New Guinea, Torres Strait and Bamaga in the north, to Hermannsburg in central Australia and Brisbane and Ipswich in the Southeast.
Conroy’s collection grew from his personal passion, but also through his professional roles that have seen him working with First Nations communities across the state. Most notably he was the manager of Queensland Aboriginal Creations (QAC) from the mid 1980s, a government initiative that specialized in bringing First Nations Art to western, and tourist markets through a Brisbane storefront. John travelled as their representative across Queensland to visit communities, meet artists and source artwork for the store. As a result, his collection was imbued with his professional knowledge, love of First Nations art as well as his relationships with the artists.
Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by John Conroy.
Discover objects from the John Conroy collection in Fragile and Forever: Ceramics from the Queensland Museum Collection, a free exhibition on at Queensland Museum Kurilpa in Brisbane: museum.qld.gov.au/kurilpa/whats-on/fragile-and-forever
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