James Cook University Art Collection

The JCU Art Collection is an important collection of paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture held in North Queensland, Australia.

It comprises over 600 individual works located in public spaces across JCU's campuses in Townsville, Cairns, Mount Isa and Mackay. The collection includes paintings, prints, ceramics and sculptures by eminent Australian artists - such as Judy Cassab, Grace Cossington Smith, Ray Crooke, Sam Fullbrook, George Milpurrurru, Margaret Olley, Dick Roughsey, Jeffrey Smart and Brett Whiteley - together with works by key north Queensland artists James Brown, Jane Hawkins, Ron McBurnie, Robert Preston, Anneke Silver and Ben Trupperbaumer. The collection also includes a number of sculptures located externally throughout the University grounds and a growing number of works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

The Eddie Koiki Mabo Library showcases the James Cook University Art Collection across three floors, offering students, visitors and staff the opportunity to enjoy, interact with and be stimulated by artworks which are integrated into their social and working environments.  Opening Hours vary throughout the year, please check our website for details.

Library and Information Services staff endeavour to hold an annual Indigenous art exhibition in May each year by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artist to celebrate the official naming of the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library and the official launch of the University’s Reconciliation Statement on 21 May 2008.  Nationally significant dates that occur during the exhibition include National Reconciliation Week (May 27th to June 3rd), National Sorry Day (May 26th) and Mabo Day (June 3rd).

To learn more about the history of the collection and its instigator - Associate Professor Ron Kenny - read historian Trisha Fielding’s article, “Man of Science left an artistic legacy”.

Enquiries about the art collection can be submitted via the Special Collections online form or by emailing [email protected]