227: Australia Week: Glenn Barkley on his philosophy of curation and transition to full time making

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Glenn Barkley. He served as the head curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia from 2008–14 and curator of the University of Wollongong Art Collection 1996–2007. During these years he developed a curatorial style that questioned art world hierarchies by showing artists outside the mainstream, focusing specifically on giving voice to marginalized populations. He is co-founder of Kil.n.it Experimental Ceramics Studio Glebe and Co-Director of The Curators Department an independent curatorial agency based in Sydney.

For the last four years Glenn has focused on his own ceramic practice making work that references popular music, gardening, and ceramic history. His vessels are covered with sprigs and obsessive mark-making that are highlighted with saturated pastel colors. In the interview we talk about his philosophy of curation, the role of ceramics in major Australian collections, and his current body of work. In June of 2018 he had a solo show at Sullivan Stumpf Gallery in Sydney. To find out more about that exhibition visit www.sullivanstrumpf.com/artists/glenn-barkley.

To listen to this episode click here.

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