About Us

Situated in the heart of Perth’s Cultural Centre, the Gallery houses the State Art Collection with works by renowned local and international artists from the 1800s to today. Immerse yourself in the Balancing Act gallery space displaying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Take a free guided tour or find something unique in the AGWA Design Store to take home.

The Gallery was founded in 1895 and occupies a precinct of three heritage buildings on the south-eastern corner of the Perth Cultural Centre including the former Perth Police Courts. The main Gallery opened in 1979 and is a unique modernist building inspired by the pavilions and courtyards of the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. In 2019, the Gallery celebrated its 40th anniversary and in 2020 the Gallery celebrated 125 years.

Related Information

AGWA Board Members

Janet Holmes à Court, AC

Janet Holmes à Court, AC

Janet Holmes à Court, AC

Appointed in 2018 under Section 6(1)(a) of the Art Gallery Act 1959 – Term Ends 2027

Janet Holmes à Court AC is owner of the Janet Holmes à Court Collection and Chair of The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA). She is a Board Member of the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), the State Buildings Advisory Board Western Australia and Commissioner for Australia for the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Dr Clarissa Ball

Dr Clarissa Ball

Dr Clarissa Ball

Appointed in 2019 under Section 6(1)(a) of the Art Gallery of the Art Gallery Act 1959 – Term Ends 2027

Dr Clarissa Ball is an art historian with particular interests in late nineteenth and twentieth century art and photography. Clarissa is currently the Head of the History of Art at the University of Western Australia where she is also the Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies. In 2018 she was appointed to the position of Deputy Director of the International Consortium, University Based Institutes of Advanced Studies. She previously held the positions of Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Fine Arts at UWA (2009-2005) and Chief Examiner for TEE Art (2005-1999) and was a member of the then Department of Corrective Services Youth Justice Board (2017-2014).

Stephanie Black

Stephanie Black

Stephanie Black

Appointed in 2023 under Section 6(1)(a) of the Art Gallery of Western Australia Act – Term Ends 2027

Stephanie Black is an experienced leader and has held executive positions in the WA Government and the private sector. Prior to her retirement in 2022, she was the Deputy Director General, Infrastructure and the Regions within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Stephanie has worked in several WA Government agencies on large infrastructure projects. She was a member of the Activ Board for ten years and is currently a Commissioner of the Forest Products Commission and a member of the Board of Zonta House Refuge Association.

She holds qualifications in economics, financial management, governance and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Michael Bohn

Michael Bohn

Michael Bohn

Appointed in 2022 under Section 6(1)(a) of the Art Gallery Act 1959 – Term Ends 2025

Michael Bohn is a Chartered Accountant with over 13 years of audit and risk assurance experience across Australia and Norway with KPMG. Working predominantly with ASX and internationally listed clients, he specialises in complex accounting, risk assessments and financial statements related advice. Michael’s personal interests include a passion for music, art and architecture, and his previous voluntary commitments include supporting the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA and the Young Chartered Accountants Panel WA. He is a graduate of the University of Western Australia holding a Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Accounting; Corporate Finance) and a Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts; Italian) and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Lanie Chopping

Lanie Chopping

Lanie Chopping

Appointed in 2021 under Section 6(1)(b) of the Art Gallery of Western Australia Act | Ex Officio, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries

Lanie Chopping is Director General of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. She has extensive experience in regulatory and citizen-focused roles across Western Australia’s public sector.

Lanie was formerly the Commissioner for Consumer Protection and the Acting Executive Director for Consumer Protection at the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. She has also held senior positions at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Economic Regulation Authority and the West Australian Council of Social Service.

Carol Innes

Carol Innes

Carol Innes

Appointed in 2020 under Section 6(1)(a) of the of the Art Gallery Act 1959 – Term Ends 2023

Carol Innes is the Aboriginal Co-Chair of Reconciliation WA. Carol is a Co-Director of the Danjoo Koorliny Initiative based in the Centre for Social Impact at the University of Western Australia.

Carol was previously Manager Aboriginal Cultural Heritage & Arts at the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority concentrating on Aboriginal engagement in the urban development projects that the organisation delivers.

Carol has worked across Federal and State government agencies, and in the not for profit area and in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Carol has been working in the arts sector for many years. Carol is experienced in government at both State and Federal levels and in the community arts sector and is a certified trainer and assessor, facilitator and advocate of community cultural development. Carol is a mother and grandmother and is a very strong advocate for raising the profile of Noongar people in Western Australia.

Carol has a strong commitment to make a difference in our community to build stronger and meaningful relationships across our community to appreciate each other in all sectors.

Dr Toni Wilkinson

Dr Toni Wilkinson

Dr Toni Wilkinson

Appointed in 2016 under Section 6(1)(a) of the Art Gallery of Western Australia Act – Term Ends 2027

Toni Wilkinson is a photographer and coordinator of Photography and Illustration at the School of Design and Built Environment, Faculty of Humanities, Curtin University in Western Australia. Toni has exhibited internationally and widely throughout Australia and her photographs are held in significant national collections such as the National Portrait Gallery, Art Gallery WA, City of Perth, Murdoch University Art Collection, Edith Cowan University Art Collection, St John of God Murdoch Hospital and others. Toni is also a member of Art Collective WA.

Colin Walker

Colin Walker

Colin Walker

Colin Walker is the Director of the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) and the Chair of the Council of Australian Art Museum Directors. Colin was previously the Executive Director, Culture and the Arts at the West Australian State Government’s Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, and Director Arts & Business in the UK where he worked with major brands and some of the highest profile arts organisations. In partnership with Pracsys Economics he developed Culture Counts, the most widely used arts quality evaluation system in the UK. He has been on the board of organisations in the health, arts, fashion and higher education sectors.

Careers

At the Gallery, we embrace diversity in the workplace and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. To see if there’s a position for you, please visit the Jobs WA website

Volunteering

Volunteering at the Art Gallery of WA offers a unique and rewarding opportunity for those interested in the arts. As a volunteer you’ll experience first hand the wonderful State Art Collection, increase your knowledge and meet artists and arts professionals while helping the Gallery fulfill its role as the State’s premier arts organisation. Find out about more about the Guide training and our Volunteer program here.

Publications 

The Art Gallery of Western Australia produces a range of publications including annual reports and exhibition catalogues. View our online publications on the Reports and Publications page.

On Saturday 27 August, the Gallery is open 10am-3pm only as we prepare for the AGWA Foundation Gala supporting women in the arts. Some exhibition access will be disrupted with two Tracks We Share ground floor galleries closed. AGWA Rooftop bar will be closed, reopening at 2pm Sunday. Details