Rockhampton Museum of Art Long Gallery to be transformed

New artwork created by one of Australia's most renowned contemporary visual artists, Sally Smart, is set to transform Rockhampton Museum of Art's (RMOA) Long Gallery.

Titled 'The Artists Ballet', the work is the creation of Smart who is recognised internationally for her large-scale assemblage installations, collage painting and film performance works.

The Artists Ballet has been installed in RMOA's Long Gallery over the past week, taking advantage of the impressive dimensions of the long gallery.

The purchase has been funded solely by donations provided to the Rockhampton Museum of Art Gift Fund from the Commissioning Collective 2025, a fundraising project that commissions largescale, landmark artwork to be added to the Rockhampton Museum of Art Collection.

The Artists Ballet is the latest in a series which Smart began a decade ago, with each iteration building on previous works. The work installed at RMOA has been specifically created for the museum and is the result of the artist visiting RMOA multiple times as she planned how the work would engage with the unique nature of the Long Gallery space.

In the artwork, the artist takes collage out of its traditional domain of small-scale paper and scales it up to dramatic effect, applying it to other media, including textiles, sculpture and metal, creating multiple captivating installations.

The work continues Smart's interest in the body and performance. It features embroidered curtains, multi-media video components with video of her working in the studio and archival footage. It also includes a collection of costumes from her archive worn by dancers in performances across her career.

Rockhampton Regional Council Arts, Heritage and Communities spokesperson Cr Drew Wickerson advised "From the very start, RMOA's Long Gallery was envisaged as being a space for monumental artwork. With its two storey high walls, it is certainly a dramatic space and is one of the drawcards of the Museum. We are once again honoured to have an artist of such international renown such as Sally Smart exhibiting at RMOA for our community and visitors to enjoy.

"I would like to thank the Commissioning Collective 2025 for the donation of this work. It is through the generosity of donors such as the members of the collective that the RMOA collection can continue to grow.”

The Artist Ballet will be on display for three years, after which it will remain in the RMOA collection for future display.

The Artists Ballet will be on display at RMOA, 220 Quay Street Rockhampton from Saturday 2nd August.

Rockhampton Museum of Art is owned and operated by Rockhampton Regional Council.

More information www.rmoa.com.au

IMAGE: Sally Smart preparing the artwork. Image courtesy RMOA.