Rebecca Hossack

Last updated
Rebecca Hossack
Born
Rebecca Anne Hossack

October 1955 (1955-10) (age 69)
Melbourne, Australia
OccupationGallerist
Years active1988–present
Spouse Matthew Sturgis

Rebecca Hossack (born October 1955), is an Australian-born London gallerist, who helped introduce Indigenous Australian art to a British audience. [1] [2] [3] [4] She is considered an expert on Aboriginal art, Australian Aboriginal culture and non-Western art traditions, [5] [6] who was the first to introduce many of the Aboriginal Australian artists to Europe, including Emily Kame Kngwarreye and Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] She also curates African Art and indigenous art from other countries such as Papua New Guinea. [12] [13]

Contents

She founded the Rebecca Hossack Gallery in 1988. Janet McKenzie, co-editor of Studio International said, "Hossack has almost single-handedly introduced Australian Aboriginal art to Britain and Europe". [3] In 1989 Hossack launched the first of her ongoing Songlines seasons of Aboriginal art, which ran from June to September annually. The exhibitions are named in honour of Hossack's friend Bruce Chatwin, inspired by his famous novel about Aboriginal culture, The Songlines. [14]

Early life and education

Hossack was born and raised in Hawthorne, Melbourne, one of four daughters of the surgeon Donald W. Hossack and his wife Joan. [15] [16] Her father was awarded an OBE for his research into seat belts in cars, which in 1970, resulted in Victoria being the first jurisdiction in the world to mandate the wearing of seatbelts. [17] Her father published his autobiography at the age of 90. [18] [19] [20] [21]

Hossack attended St Catherine's School in Melbourne, [22] Geelong Grammar School, [23] and went on to study law at the University of Melbourne, [24] [25] in addition to taking a History of Art degree at the Australian National University at Canberra University College. [26] She was president of British branch of the Melbourne University Alumni for nearly two decades.

As gallerist

In March 1988, Hossack opened her first London gallery on Windmill Street in Fitzrovia. [27] [28] She soon opened a second space at 28 Charlotte Street. In 2007, she took the lease on a four-story building in Conway Street and retained her Charlotte Street gallery as a secondary space in central London. [29] [30]

In 1989, Hossack met the Aboriginal artist Clifford Possum in Alice Springs, and he accepted her invitation for a solo show in London on condition that he could meet Queen Elizabeth II. [31] [32] When Possum arrived in London for the opening of his 1990 exhibition at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery, he was indeed taken to meet the Queen and gifted her one of his paintings for her collection. [33]

In addition to her London galleries, Hossack had a gallery on Mott Street in New York for ten years that she relocated to Little Havana in Miami in 2019, opening with a show called Priceless, by Kansas-based artist, John Holcomb. [34]

Hossack was a member of the board of LAPADA, [35] and a Trustee of FANZA (the Foundation for Australian and New Zealand Arts) for many years. [36]

Hossack's galleries exhibit craft, sculpture, and art, and while specialising in Aboriginal art, [37] her exhibitions cover fine and decorative arts. [38] [39] The gallery’s list of Western artists includes Pippa Small, Rose Blake, [40] Andrew Logan (sculptor), [41] Ann Stokes and Joan Dannatt. [42]

Promotion of aboriginal artists

Emily Kame Kngwarreye had her first solo show there in 1994. [43] Other notable Aboriginal artists who first showed in Europe at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery include Clifford Possum, [44] [45] Robert Campbell Jr., [46] [47] Jimmy Pike who showed with her 1991 and 2001, [48] Owen Yalandja, Lloyd Kwilla who showed at the Gallery in 2008, [49] Janice Murray, [50] Jean Baptiste Apuatimi with an exhibition titled Tapalinga in 2009, and Alick Tipoti in a show titled Malungu (From the Sea) in 2008. A 2011 exhibition featured artists of the Garrawa, Marra, Gurdanji, and Yanyuwa peoples. According to Will Self, three of the featured artists, Nancy McDinny, Madeleine Dirdi, and Stewart Hoosan came to the gallery in London for the vernissage. [51]

Hossack has worked with Papunya, Yuendumu, Lajamanu Aboriginal communities, [52] Balgo Hills, [53] Ampilatwatja, Spinifex people, Arnhem Land, Warmun Community, Fitzroy Crossing, Tiwi Islands, amongst others. [54] [55] The art of these communities has been growing in international stature across the fine art world. "I don't understand why Aboriginal art is not on the national agenda in schools", said Jonathan Jones in 2011, and that: "After all, it's the only art movement to come out of Australia." [56]

Other roles

Cultural Development Officer

From 1993 to 1997, Hossack served as the first Cultural Development Officer at the High Commission of Australia, London, at the newly created Australia Centre with separate entrance on the Strand. [57] [58] During her time in office Hossack organised literary and cross-cultural events centering on Australia House and across London. When her term ended in 1997, the Australian community in London, including Barry Humphries, Clive James, Germaine Greer, and Kathy Lette, protested publicly. [59]

Camden councillor

Rebecca Hossack was elected to London's Camden London Borough Council, as a councillor for Bloomsbury in May 2006. At the time, she was the first Tory candidate elected to the Bloomsbury ward in 36 years. [60] While in office, Hossack campaigned for the planting of more trees in the borough, [61] and for other green issues. [62] [63] [64]

Lectures and writing

Hossack is an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society (also known as the National Association of Decorative and Fine Art Societies, or NADFAS). [65] [66] She campaigned to have Aboriginal artists included in the obituaries sections of the leading British newspapers, and has written several herself—including obituaries for Western artists—in The Guardian and The Independent . [67] [68] Hossack has also written introductions for art books. [69]

She has also written regularly for Resurgence & Ecologist , the magazine of the Resurgence Trust founded by Satish Kumar. [70] Many of Hossack’s articles are concerned with Australian Aboriginal culture and communities. [71]

Personal life

Since 1991, Hossack has been married to biographer and historian Matthew Sturgis—a portrait of the couple by Abigail McLellan was painted in 1998. [72] A 1999 photographic portrait of Hossack by Polly Borland is held at the National Portrait Gallery, London. [73] Their house in London's Fitzrovia has been photographed for the front cover of World of Interiors and featured in many other magazines. [74] Hossack is known to ride a bicycle to get around in Central London. [75]

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References

  1. ↑ "British Museum Collection - BIOG Rebecca Hosssack".
  2. ↑ Barkham, Patrick (7 April 2008). "Tales of Belonging: 1980s, Australia, Rebecca Hossack". The Guardian . p. British Identity and Society.
  3. 1 2 McKenzie, Janet (24 October 2018). "Damien Coulthard: Songlines XXX, Adnyamathanha Yarta". Studio International, New York.
  4. ↑ Walsh, John (26 March 1998). "Rebecca Queen of the Desert". The Independent .
  5. ↑ Mickel, John (11 September 2008). "Indigenous Australian Art from Torres Strait on show in London". Queensland Government Australia. p. Media Statements.
  6. ↑ "Dream Traces: a Celebration of Contemporary Australian Aboriginal Art, April 2003-May 2003". University of Brighton, Arts/Culture Exhibition, Symposium and Publication.
  7. ↑ Blogg, Phoebe (27 September 2023). "Rebecca Hossack is the International Art Gallery Championing Indigenous Artists". National Indigenous Times.
  8. ↑ "Rebecca Hossack at SF Fine Art Fair". Aboriginal Art Directory.
  9. ↑ Hossack, Rebecca (29 May 2020). "The Wonders of Australian Aboriginal Art". YouTube, TedxOxford.
  10. ↑ "Rebecca Hossack Talk". TexOxford.
  11. ↑ Blogg, Phoebe (10 January 2024). "Rebecca Hossack art gallery celebrates launch of new indigenous sculptural exhibition".
  12. ↑ Jenkins, Chris (April 2021). "Rebecca Hossack Gallery shows art of the African bushmen". Arts and Collections Magazine.
  13. ↑ Gore, Charles. "Review. Kauage's Visions: Art from Papua New Guinea at The Horniman Museum 2005". The Journal of Museum Ethnography (JME) (18). JSTOR   40793824.
  14. ↑ Greer, Germaine (16 October 2016). "Depths of Ignorance". Prospect Magazine.
  15. ↑ "Driving Ambitions". University of Melbourne Blogs.
  16. ↑ Murphy, Karen. "Storied Life Becomes a Memoir" (PDF). Surgical News, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Magazine News. p. 47.
  17. ↑ "How Dr Donald Hossack's research has saved thousands of lives on the road". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 May 2016.
  18. ↑ Hossack, Donald W. (2017). "The Weaver's Son: Odyssey of an Australian Surgeon". National Library of Australia Catalogue (Autobiography).
  19. ↑ Belinda Nemec, ed. (2016). The Weaver's Son: Odyssey of an Australian Surgeon. Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne. ISBN   978-0-7340-5313-8.
  20. ↑ "Rebecca Queen of the Desert". The Independent.
  21. ↑ "Rebecca Hossack, Dreamtime Girl". Monk Gallery. p. essays.
  22. ↑ "Rebecca Hossack". St Catherine’s School. p. Old Girls.
  23. ↑ "Light Blue (Geelong Grammar School Magazine)". Issuu Magazines. December 2009. p. 37.
  24. ↑ Munro, Erin. "Driving Ambitions". University of Melbourne Alumni Magazine 3010.
  25. ↑ "Gallery Owner Rebecca Hossack". University of Melbourne Alumni Blogs.
  26. ↑ "Driving Ambitions". University of Melbourne Alumni Blogs.
  27. ↑ Ahmad, Arjmand. "From Songlines to Transvangarde, contemporary Indigenous Australian art at two private galleries in London, 1988-2020, abstract". SOAS Research Online.
  28. ↑ "Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery". Artsy.
  29. ↑ "Rebecca Hossack Gallery". Photo London (Exhibitors).
  30. ↑ "Rebecca Hossack". Fitzrovia Arts Festival. p. About.
  31. ↑ "Celebration of an Artist who Took on the World". The Sydney Morning Herald (Culture Art and Design). 10 May 2004.
  32. ↑ Walsh, John (26 March 1998). "Rebecca Queen of the Desert". The Independent .
  33. ↑ "clifford_possum_letter_from_the-queen" (PDF). Rebeccahossack.com. 24 July 1990.
  34. ↑ "John Holcomb". Mutual Art (Exhibitions).
  35. ↑ "Committee". LAPADA Modern.
  36. ↑ "About Us". FANZA Org.
  37. ↑ "Rebecca Hossack at SF Fine Art Fair". Aboriginal Art Directory.
  38. ↑ "Jason Jameson: The Robin The Fir Tree". The Association of Illustrators. 26 November 2022.
  39. ↑ Moncrieff, Elspeth (31 January 2002). "Are the Decorative Arts Finally Sexy". The Art Newspaper .
  40. ↑ McKenzie, Janet (28 December 2015). "Rose Blake: I have always found it easier to express a thought through picture". Studio International.
  41. ↑ "Andrew Logan in Conversation". YouTube.
  42. ↑ Woodcock, Victoria (2 September 2022). "At Home with Just William…And His Mum". The Financial Times (HTSI Magazine).
  43. ↑ "Emily Kame Kngwarreye". Delmore Gallery. p. Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
  44. ↑ Hensher, Philip (31 August 2024). "The trivial details about royalty are what really fascinate us - Craig Brown's A Voyage Around the Queen". The Spectator.
  45. ↑ "Catalog 1329661". National Library of Australia.
  46. ↑ Regan, Jayne (2017). "Robert Campbell Jr". Indigenous Australia (Biography).
  47. ↑ "Campbell Jnr, Robert". Chartwell Org.
  48. ↑ "Jimmy Pike". Japingka aboriginal art (Collections).
  49. ↑ "Lloyd Kwilla". Everywhere Art.
  50. ↑ "LA Art Show". I Like Events (news).
  51. ↑ Self, Will. "Australian Aboriginal Art". Will Self online, from The Independent.
  52. ↑ "Caring for First Nations". National Gallery of Victoria (Collections).
  53. ↑ "Balgo Hills". rebecca hossack gallery.
  54. ↑ "bark". Aboriginal Art Directory.
  55. ↑ "Tiwi Islands". Aboriginal Art Directory.
  56. ↑ Reid, Graham (31 January 2011). "Jonathan Jones Interviewed 2010". Elsewhere Magazine NZ.
  57. ↑ "Global Australians Summit". Australian Parliament House. 2006. p. 46.
  58. ↑ Sleight, Simon. "14 Australia's House" (PDF). Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. p. 233.
  59. ↑ Greer, Germaine (20 September 2013). "London Needs it's Cultural Leader Back". The Evening Standard.
  60. ↑ "Local Election Results". Camden Council. 4 May 2006.
  61. ↑ "All London Green Grid" (PDF). Mayor of London. p. 99.
  62. ↑ "Camdeners - Rebecca Hossack". London Clean Air.
  63. ↑ Carrier, Dan (16 June 2023). "Gallery Owner Rebecca Hossack Save Our Trees". Camden New Journal.
  64. ↑ Foot, Tom (6 August 2010). "Middlesex Hospital Site Sale Property Developers". Camden New Journal.
  65. ↑ Hossack, Rebecca (18 June 2020). "Aboriginal Art: Recording the Dreamtime, lecture by Rebecca Hossack". The Arts Society YouTube Channel.
  66. ↑ Hossack, Rebecca (19 February 2024). "Become an Instant Expert in Australian Aboriginal Art". The Arts Society.
  67. ↑ Hossack, Rebecca. "Obituary, Emily Kngwarreye". The Independent.
  68. ↑ Hossack, Rebecca (18 October 2009). "Abigail McLellan". The Guardian (Obituaries).
  69. ↑ Hossack, Rebecca (1 March 2020). "Merzuka Doparzo with Prologue by Rebecca Hossack". Waterstones.
  70. ↑ "Pioneering Environmental Magazine Celebrates 45 Years". Positive News. 11 June 2012.
  71. ↑ "Author Profile, Rebecca Hossack". Resurgence Magazine.
  72. ↑ "Abigail McLellan". Studio International. 27 February 2014.
  73. ↑ "Rebecca Hossack". National Portrait Gallery. p. Collections.
  74. ↑ Metcalf, Charlotte (July 2024). "Interview, Rebecca Hossack, Gallerist". Town & Country House Magazine.
  75. ↑ Newman, Sara (7 August 2008). "Friends Reunited: Rebecca Gets her beloved Bike Back". Camden New Journal.
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