News

We are proud to share that Djakangu Yunupingu has been featured in the latest issue of Art Collector, 50 Things Collectors Should Know. In reflection of Yunupiŋu’s career-milestone win of the Wynne Prize 2024, her sell-out presentation at Sydney Contemporary 2024 with Alcaston Gallery, and her extensive collector-base, Yunupiŋu has aptly been profiled in the issue’s section ‘Collector’s Love’. Written by Emma-Kate Wilson, this feature further cements Yunupiŋu as one of the most important artists in the Australian contemporary art landscape.⁠

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Alcaston Gallery is pleased to congratulate Nici Cumpston OAM, announced that after seventeen years as Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia, she will take up the coveted position as Director of Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA in May 2025.

After an international search, a committee of faculty, staff, and volunteer leaders selected Australian artist and curator Nici Cumpston OAM to be the new director of the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia (UVA). She will succeed Kluge-Ruhe’s founding director, Margo Smith, upon Smith’s retirement in May after 27 years of service.

“Nici Cumpston is recognised by her peers as a gifted museum curator, a pioneering art festival director, and a tireless advocate for Indigenous artists and communities across Australia,” search committee and UVA Art History department chair Douglas Fordham said. “We had an extraordinarily talented group of applicants for this position, and we are absolutely delighted that Nici has chosen to lead Kluge-Ruhe at this dynamic moment in its history.”

We would also like to congratulate and thank Margo Smith on the significant achievements she has made during her tenure as Kluge-Ruhe's founding director, and wish her all the very best for her retirement.

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Alcaston Gallery is thrilled to congratulate Robert 'Bobby' Thompson OAM, who has been awarded the distinguished Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community of Mornington Island. 

Bobby is the husband of the late Elsie Gabori (1946 - 2023), pictured above with their grand children; he continues to act as mentor and wise council to Director Beverly Knight in her role as Agent for the Estate of Sally Gabori Art.  

Mornington Shire Council Deputy Mayor Councillor Robert Bobby Thompson is an invaluable community member on Mornington Island.  From the 1970s until 2009, Bobby was an employed staff member in various roles including undertaker, CDEP Coordinator and Works Coordinator. Bobby has also been an active member of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, as a member, local controller, and Chief Fire Officer/ Captain, since the 1980s. Additionally, Bobby has been involved with Marine Rescue Queensland in different capacities as volunteer and Vice-Commodore, since 2009. Bobby’s contributions extend to Black Star Radio, as a Director and Community Liaison Officer, as well as North-West Remote Health Service, since 2013. He is also a former Chair of Wellesley Island Sporting Association. Circa 1994 Bobby received a Silver Medal for Bravery, Royal Humane Society of Australasia.

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It is with great sadness that we offer our condolences on the passing of Ms. D. Yunupingu, a highly respected senior Yolngu artist and elder, leaving an immense artistic and cultural legacy. Many of our clients met the artist at our booth at Sydney Contemporary last September with her sister  Djakangu Yunupingu.

Beverly and Anthony Knight and everyone at Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne offer our deepest sympathy to her sister Djakaŋngu Yunupingu, her family, her extended family, and Artists, Directors and Staff at Buku Larrnggay Mulka.

We offer our deepest sympathy and condolences on the sad passing of John Mawurndjul AM (Balang Nakurulk), one of Australia's most significant First Nations artists and cultural leaders. Our thoughts remain with his family, extended family, and Artists, Directors and Staff at Maningrida Arts and Culture.