RECENT acquisitions in the ANU’s art collection will go on display for the first time on Friday at an exhibition of works donated to the university’s Drill Hall Gallery.

Drill Hall Gallery director Terence Maloon says the university’s art collection of more than 2500 works, worth more than $34 million, is usually scattered around the campus, so is very rarely brought together in one place.

“This is not a collection like any other in Australia’s museums. It is unique to the ANU and its community,” he says.

Recent benefactions include a spectacular array of large-scale contemporary paintings and sculptures given by James and Jacqui Erskine, a valuable painting,” Flying Machine (1994)” by the Chinese artist Zhang Peili donated by Lois Conor, personally significant and inspirational works coming from the household of Rosalie and Ben Gascoigne donated by their children and a collection of bark paintings given by the scholar Jon Altman.

There are also gifts given directly by artists like Brian Blanchflower, Aida Tomescu, John Nixon, Allan Mitelman, Salvatore Zofrea, Philip Spelman and others.

As well, the collection effectively traces the history of the ANU School of Art and Design, now celebrating its 40th year, with a selection of works by outstanding graduating students.

“10 Years of Collecting at the ANU,” Drill Hall Gallery, April 21-May 28.