Rebecca Hossack (born October 1955), is an Australian-born London gallerist, who helped introduce

Indigenous Australian art Indigenous Australian art includes art made by Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, including collaborations with others. It includes works in a wide range of media including painting on leaves, bark painting, wood carving, rock ...

to a British audience. She is considered an expert on Aboriginal art,

Australian Aboriginal culture Australian Aboriginal culture includes a number of practices and ceremonies centered on a belief in the Dreamtime and other mythology. Reverence and respect for the land and oral traditions are emphasised. The words "law" and "lore", the latter ...

and non-Western art traditions, who was the first to introduce many of the

Aboriginal Australian Aboriginal Australians are the various indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, excluding the ethnically distinct people of the Torres Strait Islands. Humans first migrated to Australia 50,000 to 65,000 year ...

artists to Europe, including

Emily Kame Kngwarreye Emily Kam Kngwarray (c.1914-1996) was born in her Ancestral lands, Alhalker located in the Sandover region of the Northern Territory, Australia. One of the world’s most significant contemporary painters to emerge in the twentieth century Kngw ...

and Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. She also curates

African Art African art encompasses modern and historical paintings, sculptures, installations, and other visual cultures originating from indigenous African diaspora, African communities across the African continent. The definition may also include the ar ...

and indigenous art from other countries such as

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is an island country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and offshore islands in Melanesia, a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean n ...

. She founded the Rebecca Hossack Gallery in 1988. Janet McKenzie, co-editor of

Studio International ''Studio International'' is an international illustrated contemporary art magazine, formerly published in hard copy in London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both Engla ...

said, "Hossack has almost single-handedly introduced Australian Aboriginal art to Britain and Europe". In 1989 Hossack launched the first of her ongoing ''Songlines'' seasons of Aboriginal art, which ran from June to September annually. The exhibitions are named in honour of Hossack's friend

Bruce Chatwin Charles Bruce Chatwin (13 May 194018 January 1989) was an English travel writer, novelist and journalist. His first book, ''In Patagonia'' (1977), established Chatwin as a travel writer, although he considered himself instead a storytelling, s ...

, inspired by his famous novel about Aboriginal culture,

The Songlines ''The Songlines'' is a 1987 book written by British novelist and travel writer Bruce Chatwin about the songs of Aboriginal Australians and their connections to nomadic travel. A roman à clef that combines novel, travelogue, and memoir, Chatw ...

Early life and education

Hossack was born and raised in Hawthorne,

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

, one of four daughters of the surgeon Donald W. Hossack and his wife Joan. Her father was awarded an OBE for his research into seat belts in cars, which in 1970, resulted in Victoria being the first jurisdiction in the world to mandate the wearing of seatbelts. Her father published his autobiography at the age of 90. Hossack attended St Catherine's School in Melbourne,

Geelong Grammar School Geelong Grammar School is a private Anglican co-educational boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located in Corio on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay. Establ ...

, and went on to study law at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...

, in addition to taking a History of Art degree at the

Australian National University The Australian National University (ANU) is a public university, public research university and member of the Group of Eight (Australian universities), Group of Eight, located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton, A ...

at Canberra University College. She was president of British branch of the Melbourne University Alumni for nearly two decades.

As gallerist

In March 1988, Hossack opened her first London gallery on Windmill Street in

Fitzrovia Fitzrovia ( ) is a district of central London, England, near the West End. Its eastern part is in the London Borough of Camden, and the western in the City of Westminster. It has its roots in the Manor of Tottenham Court, and was urbanised in ...

. She soon opened a second space at 28

Charlotte Street Charlotte Street is a street in Fitzrovia, historically part of the parish and borough of St Pancras, in central London. It has been described, together with its northern and southern extensions (Fitzroy Street and Rathbone Place), as the ' ...

. In 2007, she took the lease on a four-story building in Conway Street and retained her Charlotte Street gallery as a secondary space in central London. In 1989, Hossack met the Aboriginal artist Clifford Possum in Alice Springs, and he accepted her invitation for a solo show in London on condition that he could meet

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

. When Possum arrived in London for the opening of his 1990 exhibition at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery, he was indeed taken to meet the Queen and gifted her one of his paintings for her collection. In addition to her London galleries, Hossack had a gallery on

Mott Street Mott Street () is a narrow but busy thoroughfare that runs in a north–south direction in the New York City borough (New York City), borough of Manhattan. It is regarded as Chinatown, Manhattan, Chinatown's unofficial "Main Street". Mott Stre ...

in New York for ten years that she relocated to

Little Havana Little Havana () is a Neighborhoods in Miami, neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States. Home to many Cuban exiles, as well as many immigrants from Central and South America, Little Havana is named after Havana, the Capital (political), ...

in Miami in 2019, opening with a show called ''Priceless'', by Kansas-based artist, John Holcomb. Hossack was a member of the board of LAPADA, and a Trustee of FANZA (the Foundation for Australian and New Zealand Arts) for many years. Hossack's galleries exhibit craft, sculpture, and art, and while specialising in Aboriginal art, her exhibitions cover fine and decorative arts. The gallery’s list of Western artists includes Pippa Small, Rose Blake,

Andrew Logan (sculptor) Andrew Logan (born 11 Oct 1945) is an English sculpture, sculptor, performance artist, jewellery-maker, and portraitist. He founded the ''Alternative Miss World'' in 1972, and his works have been exhibited in museums around the world. A museu ...

, Ann Stokes and Joan Dannatt.

Promotion of aboriginal artists

had her first solo show there in 1994. Other notable Aboriginal artists who first showed in Europe at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery include Clifford Possum, Robert Campbell Jr., Jimmy Pike who showed with her 1991 and 2001, Owen Yalandja, Lloyd Kwilla who showed at the Gallery in 2008, Janice Murray,

Jean Baptiste Apuatimi Jean Baptiste Apuatimi (1940–2013) was a significant Tiwi Islands, Tiwi Island artist whose work is held at most major and several minor Australian galleries and the British Museum. Her works were first exhibited in 1991 in group shows. From 19 ...

with an exhibition titled ''Tapalinga'' in 2009, and Alick Tipoti in a show titled ''Malungu (From the Sea)'' in 2008. A 2011 exhibition featured artists of the Garrawa, Marra, Gurdanji, and

Yanyuwa people The Yanyuwa people, also spelt Yanuwa, Yanyula and other variations, are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Northern Territory who live in the coastal region inclusive of and opposite to the Sir Edward Pellew Group of Islands in the southern ...

s. According to

Will Self William Woodard Self (born 26 September 1961) is an English writer, journalist, political commentator and broadcaster. He has written 11 novels, five collections of shorter fiction, three novellas and nine collections of non-fiction writing. Se ...

, three of the featured artists, Nancy McDinny, Madeleine Dirdi, and Stewart Hoosan came to the gallery in London for the

vernissage A vernissage (from French, originally meaning "varnishing") is a preview of an art exhibition, which may be private, before the formal opening. If the vernissage is not open to the public, but only to invited guests, it is often called a '' pr ...

. Hossack has worked with

Papunya Papunya ( Pintupi-Luritja: ''Warumpi'') is a small Indigenous Australian community roughly northwest of Alice Springs (Mparntwe) in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is known as an important centre for Contemporary Indigenous Australian ar ...

Yuendumu Yuendumu is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia, northwest of Alice Springs on the Tanami Road, within the Central Desert Region local government area. It ranks as one of the larger remote communities in central Australia, and has a ...

, Lajamanu Aboriginal communities, Balgo Hills, Ampilatwatja, Spinifex people,

Arnhem Land Arnhem Land is a historical region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around from the territorial capital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin. In 1623, Dutch East India Compa ...

, Warmun Community, Fitzroy Crossing,

Tiwi Islands The Tiwi Islands ( meaning "two islands") are part of the Northern Territory, Australia, to the north of Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin adjoining the Timor Sea. They comprise Melville Island, Northern Territory, Melville Island, Bathurst I ...

, amongst others. The art of these communities has been growing in international stature across the fine art world. "I don't understand why Aboriginal art is not on the national agenda in schools", said Jonathan Jones in 2011, and that: "After all, it's the only art movement to come out of Australia."

Other roles

Cultural Development Officer

From 1993 to 1997, Hossack served as the first Cultural Development Officer at the

High Commission of Australia, London The High Commission of Australia in London is the diplomatic mission of Australia in the United Kingdom. It is located in Australia House, a Grade II listed building. It was Australia's first diplomatic mission and is the longest continuously ...

, at the newly created Australia Centre with separate entrance on the

Strand Strand or The Strand may refer to: Topography *The flat area of land bordering a body of water, a: ** Beach ** Shoreline * Strand swamp, a type of swamp habitat in Florida Places Africa * Strand, Western Cape, a seaside town in South Africa * ...

. During her time in office Hossack organised literary and cross-cultural events centering on

Australia House The High Commission of Australia in London is the diplomatic mission of Australia in the United Kingdom. It is located in Australia House, a Grade II listed building. It was Australia's first diplomatic mission and is the longest continuously ...

and across London. When her term ended in 1997, the Australian community in London, including

Barry Humphries John Barry Humphries (17 February 1934 – 22 April 2023) was an Australian comedian, actor, author and satirist. He was best known for writing and playing his stage and television characters Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson. He appeare ...

Clive James Clive James (born Vivian Leopold James; 7 October 1939 – 24 November 2019) was an Australian critic, journalist, broadcaster, writer and lyricist who lived and worked in the United Kingdom from 1962 until his death in 2019.Germaine Greer Germaine Greer (; born 29 January 1939) is an Australian writer and feminist, regarded as one of the major voices of the second-wave feminism movement in the latter half of the 20th century. Specializing in English and women's literature, she ...

, and Kathy Lette, protested publicly.

Camden councillor

Rebecca Hossack was elected to London's

Camden London Borough Council Camden London Borough Council, also known as Camden Council, legally The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Camden, is the local authority for the London Borough of Camden in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one o ...

, as a councillor for

Bloomsbury Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London, part of the London Borough of Camden in England. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural institution, cultural, intellectual, and educational ...

in May 2006. At the time, she was the first Tory candidate elected to the Bloomsbury ward in 36 years. While in office, Hossack campaigned for the planting of more trees in the borough, and for other green issues.

Lectures and writing

Hossack is an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society (also known as the National Association of Decorative and Fine Art Societies, or NADFAS). She campaigned to have Aboriginal artists included in the obituaries sections of the leading British newspapers, and has written several herself—including obituaries for Western artists—in ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'' and ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

''. Hossack has also written introductions for art books. She has also written regularly for '' Resurgence & Ecologist'', the magazine of the Resurgence Trust founded by

Satish Kumar Satish Kumar (born 9 August 1936) is an Indian British activist and speaker. He has been a Jainism, Jain monk, nuclear disarmament advocate and pacifist.'' ''Now living in England, Kumar is founder and Director of Programmes of the Schumacher ...

. Many of Hossack’s articles are concerned with

and communities.

Personal life

Since 1991, Hossack has been married to biographer and historian

Matthew Sturgis Matthew Sturgis (born 1960) is a British historian and biographer. Early life Sturgis earned a degree in history at the University of Oxford. Career Sturgis has written art criticism for '' Harpers & Queen'', travel journalism for ''The Sunday ...

—a portrait of the couple by Abigail McLellan was painted in 1998. A 1999 photographic portrait of Hossack by Polly Borland is held at the

National Portrait Gallery, London The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) is an art gallery in London that houses a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. When it opened in 1856, it was arguably the first national public gallery in the world th ...

. Their house in London's Fitzrovia has been photographed for the front cover of World of Interiors and featured in many other magazines. Hossack is known to ride a bicycle to get around in Central London.

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hossack, Rebecca 1955 births Living people People from Melbourne People educated at Geelong Grammar School University of Melbourne alumni Australian National University alumni Women art dealers Australian art dealers British art dealers Obituary writers Councillors in Greater London