{"id":40551,"date":"2026-08-25T16:21:29","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T06:21:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=40551"},"modified":"2026-08-25T16:21:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T06:21:29","slug":"blue-poles-heads-west","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2026\/08\/25\/blue-poles-heads-west\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue poles heads west"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the national collection\u2019s most iconic and cherished paintings, Blue poles<\/em>, will travel across the country thanks to the Albanese Labor Government\u2019s Sharing the National Collection program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The work, which has never been seen in Western Australia, will go on display at the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth from April to September 2027. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valued in 2023 at $500 million, Blue poles by American Abstract Expressionist artist, Jackson Pollock was purchased by the Australian Government in 1973. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the first time the painting has been loaned to an Australian venue by the National Gallery since 2003. With critical capital works already underway at the gallery, the loan will ensure that the work remains on display rather than being placed into storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of 30 June 2026, more than 2.1 million Australians have engaged with more than 327 Sharing the National Collection loans which includes Australian and international works to 42 galleries and cultural venues across every state and territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reaction from audiences and venue partners has been overwhelmingly positive with galleries reporting increases in visitor numbers of up to 51% for their exhibitions showcasing works from the national collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes sharing more than 50 pieces by legendary American artist Andy Warhol \u2013 including his iconic Campbell\u2019s Soup and life-size Elvis works \u2013 with the Wanneroo Regional Gallery in 2024, which saw a 750 per cent increase in visitor numbers in the first four months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBlue poles<\/em> changed our nation, so it makes sense that the nation gets to see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe national collection belongs to every Australian \u2013 no matter where they live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re sending Blue poles <\/em>to Perth, making sure the west can enjoy this masterpiece and important part of our national story.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

to the Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBlue poles<\/em> was railed against at the time as a waste of money and has proven itself to be one of the smartest investments the National Gallery has ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe greatest works in the world shouldn\u2019t only be seen in private collections. We are a proud and important creative nation. Australians have a right to know that our national collection is world class, just as they have a right to know that as a national collection, it won’t only live in Canberra but will be shared with the whole of the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the National Gallery of Australia, Dr Nick Mitzevich<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Jackson Pollock\u2019s Blue poles<\/em> entered the national collection, it signalled ambition, confidence and belief in the importance of art to national life. More than 50 years later, sharing this extraordinary work with audiences across Australia sustains that vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrough the Sharing the National Collection program and with the support of the Australian Government, we are proud to bring one of the Gallery\u2019s most significant works to Australian audiences in Western Australia \u2013 who otherwise may never have the opportunity to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing the National Collection<\/em> is part of Revive<\/em><\/a>, Australia\u2019s National Cultural Policy. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the national collection\u2019s most iconic and cherished paintings, Blue poles, will travel across the country thanks to the Albanese Labor Government\u2019s Sharing the National Collection program. The work, which has never been seen in Western Australia, will go on display at the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth from April to September 2027.  … Continue reading “Blue poles heads west”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aussie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40551"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40552,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40551\/revisions\/40552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}