GA029 - Australian and International Art

16
Selected works from
The Sam Newman Collection
Many members of the general public are
familiar with Sam Newman’s prolific onscreen
personality, both on and off the field. Many may
not know, however, the football great’s support
and dedication to the Australian art scene. Who
can forget Newman's iconic St Kilda ‘Pamela
House’? Complete with a 9 x 8 metre glass
patterned façade mural of Baywatch siren
Pamela Anderson, the architecturally designed
home caused quite the stir when it was built in
the early 2000s. Noted at the time by influential
members in Australian art including Dr Gerard
Vaughan (former director of the National Gallery
of Victoria and the National Gallery of Australia),
Juliana Engberg, Norman Day, Dimity Reed
and Bruce Filley; the façade was regarded as
everything from pop art to public art installation
to public nuisance. 1 The mural did what
many regard as quintessential in art: causing
controversy and creating conversation.
Newman has been a collector of important
Australian artist Jeffery Smart’s work, at
one stage owning four pieces, including The
Guiding Spheres for which he paid a record
price at auction in 1998.
Bass Strait by Graeme Roche bears notable
similarities to the work of Smart, emulated
in the crisp lines and surrealist subject
matter. Roche noting, 'I draw inspiration from
everyday situations often portrayed slightly
out of context...reality juxtaposed. I share this
fascination with Smart, Delvaux and Magritte:
"inanimate objects live". The classical simplicity
of my work does not always expose the quest
for balance. People like the clean image. It
pleases me the struggle does not show'. 2
Newman himself has praised the 'neatness and
clinical style' of Roche’s work, which drew him
originally to the painting. 3
Indigenous artwork is of particular importance
to Newman, noting the history and narratives
within the works. Although Tommy Watson
often keeps the sacred meanings of his
paintings private, their spiritual stories
transcend explanation. Kapi Piti is an excellent
example of his work, exemplifying his signature
style using ‘layers of vibrant colours to
symbolically represent the country of his
parents and grandparents. Oranges, burgundy,
reds, ivory and pinks are used to create
sumptuous layers of coloured dots which
ripple and surge across the canvas suggesting
contours in the landscape, dry creek beds,
plains of spinifex and tali (sand dunes).’ 4
Newman is selling the works, only for purely
logistical reasons as he downsizes from his
larger property and hopes to transfer the
custodianship into new hands. 'I’ve decided
to divest myself of what I think are appealing
pieces, including a couple of terrific indigenous
pieces by Tommy Watson. I would rather
the pieces move on to someone who could
hang them rather than have them stored in a
warehouse where they collect dust.' 5
1. St Kilda Historical Society, 'A Place of Sensuous
Resort', Buildings of St Kilda and Their People,
2005, [http://skhs.org.au/SKHSbuildings/22.html],
accessed September 2021
2. G. Roche, As I See it: by Graeme Roche, n.d.
3. S. Newman, 2021, Interview by Gibson’s
4. M. Knights, Irrunytju Arts: 2001-2006, N.T.,
Irruntytju Arts, 2006, p.72
5. F. Byrne, 'Why Sam Newman is selling
artwork, including thatof a celebrated artist',
The Herald Sun, September 5, 2021,