Art & Heritage Collections

To mark Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June) the focus of the Visual Art collection for this month is Joel Hayes's evocative piece My Homeland.

Hayes is an Aboriginal artist based in Geelong, Victoria. He is a member of the Arunta people from Central Australia and is related to Albert Namatjira.

His art reflects both traditional and contemporary styles. He is a painter in the traditional sense, but also uses the technique of "glass slumping", where Aboriginal cultural designs are impressed into high-quality glassware using high-temperature kilns.

Hayes has created a number of large glass works commissioned for the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Mirna Heruc, Manager, Art & Heritage Collections