Agathon Galleries

Agathon Galleries specialises in sourcing and exhibiting museum quality Aboriginal art from the Central Desert of Australia. With a major gallery presence in both Melbourne and Sydney we curate several major solo exhibitions for each city. We are also actively involved in curating collections for private and corporate clients both locally and internationally.

Our specialist area is the remote Western Australian community of Irrunytju and adjoining communities which are located in the centre of the continent, close to the tri state borders of Western Australia, South Australia and Northern Territory. Director of Agathon John Ioannou has worked closely with arts co-ordinator Fabian Conti at Irrunytju to assist the art centre. The Gallery exhibits some 30 artists from this community, Wanarn and other neighbouring communities.

Artists
Artists represented include Alkawari Dawson, Angampa Martin, Anmanari Brown, Eileen Stevens, Helen McCarthy, Ivy Laidlaw, Jean Burke, Jorna Newberry, Patju Presley, Ruby Williamson, Kuntjil Cooper, Myra Cook, Patju Presley, Roma Butler, Tjayanka Woods, Lance Peck, Tjuruparu Watson, Wingu Tingima, Carol Golding, and Tommy Watson.

Tommy Watson’s work was chosen for permanent exhibition in the Musee du Quay Branly in Paris in 2007 one of six Indigenous Australian artists to be incorporated into the architectural structure of the museum. Watson’s painting Wipu Rockhole is on permanent display as a focal point of the Museum’s design. Helen McCarthy was Telstra’s 2007 People’s Choice Winner.

Background
Established in 2004, the growing recognition of Agathon Galleries as one of the major galleries of contemporary Aboriginal art in Australia is a reflection of the personal dedication and enthusiasm of the Director in promoting the cultural importance of Aboriginal art to national and international contemporary art circles. The Gallery philosophy is to assist artists in the professional development of their careers, nurturing their creative talents and building close and supportive relationships with them and their extended families.

Under the terms of our operational policy, all artists receive 60% of the sale price of their work. The majority of our work is sourced directly fro m the community art centres and the rest is sourced through contractual arrangements with individual artists.

Vision
All artists at Agathon Galleries have strong relationships with John Ioannou, who has a 15 year background as a dealer in indigenous art in the Australasia-Pacific Region. A passionate advocate of aboriginal art, he is an initiated member of the Pitjantjatarra people and a fluent speaker of Pitjantjatarra language. His visionary gallery and art centre model is unique to the industry as he and his staff take a hands on approach, dividing their time between the city galleries and the community. His aim is to foster the creative talents and professionalism of the artists work and assist in establishing the economic sustainability of the Irrunytju Community Art Centre and the wider Community through strategically innovative economic ways.

Sydney Director: Marie Geissler
e: marie@agathon.com.au
t: 02 8399 1888
m:0416 285 727
f: 02 8399 1444
www.agathon.com.au