SWAN Hill Regional Gallery has an impressive amount of artworks in its permanent collection and more than 90 are on display in the Here We Are exhibition.
The permanent collection contains more than 550 works, covering a cross section of styles and genres.
Art gallery director Ian Tully said the collection had been acquired from a variety of sources, including funds the gallery was able to raise through money donated or grants from various foundations.
“We have just found out that we have received one of these grants and we will be purchasing a work from First Nations artist Brian Robinson in 2024,” Mr Tully said.
“We often take donations from artists, estates and quite a different variety of people and organisations.
“It is important to remember that, we like many galleries, have a collections policy that guides us in what we collect.
“This guides us and supports us in our aspirations to acquire quality work.”
One of the works featured prominently in the current exhibition was a recent acquisition by artist Peter Wegner that is more than three and a half meters long, titled Man Facing Black Dog.
Addressing the duality of a man with his dog, as well as facing the metaphorical Black Dog that is the struggle with depression and mental illness, the work conveys an important message.
The 2021 Archibald Prize winner painted the work of his late friend and artist Graeme Doyle as he battled schizophrenia.
According to Mr Tully it was the “the piece de resistance” of a series the artist has been creating for more than 35 years.
Donated by the artist through the Cultural Gifts Program, the work was the third by the artist to join the gallery’s permanent collection.
According to gallery visitation data the venue has relatively even split between tourist traffic and locals.
