Landmark donation brings internationally acclaimed art to campus

The 31 sculptures, valued at $6.1 million, join the other works previously donated by Mr Rogers. Mr Rogers has now gifted 119 artworks worth over $10 million to Deakin. This generous gift is the largest philanthropic gift to the University Art Collection and is an historically significant contribution to the University.

Deakin University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Iain Martin, explained that this gift reflects the importance of art to the University: 'We are proud that our University's Art Collection is comprised of more than 2,800 pieces. Our philosophy is to make art available to our students, staff, and community, and Mr Rogers’ generous donation helps underline that commitment. The opportunity to experience the work of an internationally recognised artist this way is unique and typically Deakin.'

Mr Rogers' critically acclaimed sculptures and photographs are exhibited internationally and held in numerous private and prominent public collections around the world. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Deakin University in 2020 for his distinguished contribution to contemporary art and for his significant support of the Art Collection.

Mr Rogers is a Melbourne-based artist with an international following. Dr Gerard Vaughan AM, former Director of the National Gallery of Victoria and National Gallery of Australia, described Andrew Rogers as 'an exceptional Australian sculptor who enjoys strong - and growing – recognition for his commitment to making real, in a material sense, his ideas about the power of energetic form in a communal context. One of our truly great, and most innovative, sculptors, whose works are seen and admired by huge passing crowds every day, from Melbourne and Canberra to New York and far beyond.'

Mr Rogers said he was particularly interested in contributing to the University and helping with the education of future generations.

'There is strong synergy with the ideas and disciplines involved in my work and many facets of University education - mathematics, arts, sciences, philosophy, history and heritage. The intent of giving a major body of sculptures to Deakin is that students for many years will have the opportunity to see and interact with and be stimulated by the forms,' he said.

Deakin University Senior Manager Art Collection and Galleries, Leanne Willis, said: 'Mr Rogers' latest donation of 31 sculptures represents a comprehensive overview of his career from 1993 to 2021. It provides an in-depth representation of his creative practice and is an important research and educational tool that represents the artist’s changing methodology, identity, subject, forms, and materials over time. Deakin University is now the only location where you can view the development of his artistic career in this way.'

A sculpture walk focusing on Andrew Rogers' work is being developed for Deakin's Burwood Campus and will be launched in conjunction with the artist's Deakin exhibition later this year.

Extended quote attributed to Dr Gerard Vaughan AM:

'Andrew Rogers is an exceptional Australian sculptor who enjoys strong - and growing - recognition for his commitment to making real, in a material sense, his ideas about the power of energetic form in a communal context.

'While our major Australian public galleries (for example, the NGA, NGV and AGNSW) hold key examples of his bronze sculptures (largely centred on a several-decades long exploration of the "I AM" theme), he conceives his work above all as best suited for outdoor purposes, interacting with public experience of daily life, a concept captured under the umbrella title of "Rhythms of Life", about our shared humanity. His works, therefore, are encountered in streets, parks and plazas, urban settings, as well as landscape ones, and several of the world's major privately owned sculpture parks have commissioned works.

'Andrew's ambition has been irrepressible and his craftsmanship awe-inspiring, using as required new technologies in materiality and engineering, such as the monumental 7.5 metre high evolution of the "I AM" theme (2015) seen and enjoyed by all visitors to the entrance foyer of Canberra Airport, only exceeded in height by the 10 metre "I AM - Energy" for the 2017 World Expo in Astana, Kazakhstan.

'Andrew's concept of the "Rhythms of Life", with the trajectory of his œuvre conceived as a chain of linked artistic events about shared humanity, was celebrated above all in what must be the world's largest Land Art project with, from 1998 to 1999, 51 massive earth works/geoglyphs executed in 16 countries, based on his ideas but executed by local communities in ways that were meaningful to them; these are best understood through the mediums of film and photography, readily accessed on the internet.

'Andrew Rogers' reputation as one or our truly great, and most innovative, sculptors, whose works are seen and admired by huge passing crowds every day, from Melbourne and Canberra to New York and far beyond, is justly deserved.'

Note to media: additional images of works by the artist are available. Please contact media@deakin.edu.au for assistance.