The Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery houses The University of Western Australia Art Collection, one of the most important collections of paintings, watercolours, drawings, prints, sculpture and decorative arts in Western Australia.

The University of Western Australia Art Collection is also nationally important as it provides a strong representation of Australian twentieth-century art. It was the first public collection in the State (or in an Australian university) to include works by a number of renowned Australian artists (including figures like Sidney Nolan, Fred Williams and Arthur Boyd).

For more than 80 years, UWA has been acquiring significant works of art, and for 60 years it has had generous support from people in the community who have given art and funds in order that the collection be made visible and available to the widest possible public.

The UWA Art Collection has been committed to representing the evolving present, the contemporary moment, and current practice and thinking in the visual arts. This has led to the development of what is now a strong historical collection alongside a continuing interest in extending and growing it into the future.

The Gallery building

The Gallery building, completed in 1990, was the first dedicated, purpose-built art museum building in an Australian university, and it remains one of the largest and most attractive. The building was constructed very largely with funds raised from alumni, public and corporate donations. Located on the beautiful grounds of The University of Western Australia, the Gallery has three major exhibition spaces, extensive public areas, and high-quality collection storage.

Collection exhibitions

The Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery has a strong exhibition history. It has produced substantial exhibitions of Australian art, both contemporary and historical, worked with individual artists and groups, and presented important touring exhibitions since its inception and, through its predecessor, the Undercroft Gallery, since the early 1970s.

Exhibitions, research, conservation and publications, as well as an active loan program that extends the Gallery’s reach nationally, all assist in making the Collection accessible, valued and recognised by State and national audiences.