Works by notable academics and alumni acquired by the RMIT Art Collection over the past 100 years are on display in a new exhibition.

Working Title: Studio Practice in the RMIT Art Collection features work from Peta Clancy, Greg Creek, Dale Hickey, Clare Rae, Steven Rendall and Normana Wight will be on display at the RMIT Gallery until 27 June 2024.

The exhibition celebrates the studio as a place where artists conceptualise, experiment and develop art.

It explores the idea that studio practice is different for each maker; while some artists enjoy the solitude of their workspaces, others take their work outside to their communities.

Exhibition curator Lisa Linton, Engagement Coordinator, RMIT Galleries said RMIT's studios have a long-standing reputation as a fundamental meeting place for Melbourne's creative sector.

"Our classrooms foster an encouraging environment to experiment with techniques and artistic styles, which continue to make us one of the best places for students to study artmaking in Australia," she said.

"This exhibition explores the legacy of studio practice through the lens of our Art Collection, to discover the unique ways our alumni and academic community make art that often times is reflective artmaking and art itself."

A collection of artworks from the Working Title: Studio Practice in the RMIT Art Collection exhibition. Credit: Christian Capurro

RMIT Galleries will hold a series of public workshops alongside the exhibition:

• Experimental portrait drawing workshop - 16 July
• Abstraction as self-expression - 18 July
• The body, dress and self-portraiture - 25 July

Nick Devlin, Technical Collections Coordinator, RMIT Culture said RMIT has been collecting and acquiring artwork since it was first established in 1887.

"The Art Collection was established in the early 1970's under the guidance of the then head of the Art Department, Lindsay Edward, and has since grown to nearly 3,000 works," he said.

"Displayed throughout RMIT's campuses, the Collection is regularly represented through exhibitions and regular institutional loans.

"The Art Collection represents a considerable overview of Australian and international art while celebrating RMIT alumni and the University's rich cultural history, and providing an ongoing, rich resource for teaching, learning and research."

Learn more about Working Title: Studio Practice in the RMIT Art Collection.

Learn more about other exhibitions at RMIT Gallery.

Story: Thomas Odell