Join two of Australia’s leading art writers and historians, Christopher Allen and Sasha Grishin, for a lively conversation exploring the role of art criticism in today’s Australian art scene and its relevance to the visual arts in regional Australia.

Both speakers bring decades of experience writing, researching and thinking about Australian art. Sasha Grishin began his career as an art critic in 1977, when he was appointed Senior Art Critic for The Canberra Times, a position he held for 46 years. He continues to write as Art Critic for Region Media and contributes regularly to a range of Australian art publications. Christopher Allen has been writing for The Australian since 2008 and is a respected art historian, writer and educator. He has written and edited several books, including Art in Australia, and is a passionate advocate for the significance of Australian art history.

Both Grishin and Allen have played an important role in documenting, interpreting and shaping conversations around Australian art. Their work as critics sits alongside their contributions as historians and authors, reflecting the enduring relationship between art criticism and art history. As the saying goes, “art criticism is the first draft of art history.”

The evening will feature presentations from both speakers, followed by a moderated conversation and audience Q&A.

Dr Christopher Allen is an art critic and historian. A graduate of the University of Sydney, Christopher has worked at the Collège de France in Paris and the National Art School, and is currently Senior Master in Academic Extension at Sydney Grammar School. He is the author of Art in Australia from Colonisation to Postmodernism (1997), French Painting in the Golden Age (2003) and several other books, including Jeffrey Smart: Unpublished Paintings 1940-2007 (2008). He was art critic of the Australian Financial Review from 2005 to 2008 and since 2008 has been national art critic for The Australian.

Sasha Grishin AM, FAHA, is the author of more than 30 books on art, including Australian Art: A History, and has served as the senior art critic for The Canberra Times for forty-six years between 1977 and 2023. He is an Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University, Canberra, and has served as Guest Curator at the National Gallery of Victoria and the State Library of Victoria. He is an approved valuer for the Arts Cultural Gifts Program of the Australian Government’s Department of Communications and the Arts.

About the Packsaddle Lecture Series

With sponsorship from the Packsaddle Fundraising Group, one of NERAM’s key supporting bodies, four lectures are presented each year within the NERAM galleries. The Packsaddle Lecture Series invites leading guest speakers to explore aspects of Australian and international artistic practices and history. These informative and entertaining talks provide the community with an opportunity to explore themes and ideas related to some of our key collection areas or temporary exhibitions.

Packsaddle Lecture: Christopher Allen & Sasha Grishin

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