Vale Mandy Martin

The Drill Hall Gallery is saddened by the recent news that artist Mandy Martin lost her ongoing battle with cancer. Mandy had a long connection with Canberra and particularly with the Australian National University – she worked with the Canberra School of Art from 1978 until 2003, and was then an Adjunct Professor with the Fenner School of Environment and Society.

In 2002 the Drill Hall Gallery worked closely with Mandy on her much acclaimed exhibition Peripecia – a survey of paintings from her Salvator Rosa Series presented alongside new paintings and works on paper which had resulted from Martin’s travels and research in Mexico as a 2001 Creative Arts Fellow (Arts ACT). The ANU Art Collection benefited greatly from this close relationship and the generous spirit of the artist, with a number of significant canvases and collaborative works acquired since the late 1980s.

Mandy’s creative practice was always concerned with social issues but became increasingly focused on the climate crisis and our human impact on the planet. She shared her deep respect for the environment through her painting which looked to empower and encourage change. In her final weeks Mandy set the foundations for a lasting contribution to the arts and the environment in the form of an artist grant program, facilitated through Climarte. If you would like to support this initiative, please follow the link https://www.givenow.com.au/climarte/

When prompted tick the checkbox leave a message for the organisation and please write Mandy Martin Donation. All donations are tax deductible.

Our thoughts are with Mandy’s family and friends.

(https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/martin-mandy-31976)

Image credit: Mandy Martin & Guy Fitzhardinge, ‘Ground Plane’, 2004. found local and sourced pigment, smoke, singeing, sand, ochre, rusty tin and acrylic on Arches paper, 30 x 200 cm. ANU Art Collection. Gift of the artist Mandy Martin, 2005. This work is prominently displayed and cherished by staff at the ANU Fenner School of Environment & Society.