Art Gallery of SA boss Rhana Devenport to exit after six trailblazing years

Her resignation will trigger a global hunt for a replacement after six impressive years at the helm of the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Art Gallery of South Australia director Rhana Devenport has announced she will be leaving her job. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

Art Gallery of South Australia Director Rhana Devenport today announced her exit, leaving big shoes to fill after six trailblazing years at the helm of the North Terrace landmark.

The international arts leader was the first woman to take up the role and her impending departure in early July will trigger a national and international recruitment search for a replacement.

Ms Devenport has presided over significant growth for gallery, steered it through the challenges of Covid and delivered several blockbusters.

Last year’s Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution was the gallery’s most successful ticketed exhibition in decades, with a box office haul of $1.5 million, consolidating its reputation as an international cultural destination.

There have been four million visitors since she was appointed in 2018 and AGSA became one of the most visited galleries in the world during the pandemic, reaching the Top 100.

Art Gallery of SA director Rhana Devenport, Arts Minister Andrea Michaels and new AGSA chairwoman Sandy Verschoor. Picture: Saul Steed, supplied by AGSA

Ms Devenport has been lured to Sydney, where she is set to embark on a series of new international and national projects.

Her contract at AGSA ended in October and has been twice renewed by the Art Gallery Board.

“I will leave AGSA with a clear road map for the future of the 143-year-old gallery through the new strategic plan and am deeply honoured to be part of its legacy and helping to shape its future,’’ she said.

“I have loved living in Adelaide with all it offers and working closely with so many impressive creatives in a highly collaborative environment here in South Australia.’’

Ms Devenport who has described great art museums as “the heart of great cities’’, said AGSA was a “fearless and innovative leader in SA, nationally and internationally’’.

‘‘In 2023 alone, we presented the work of 3148 living artists which defines AGSA as the foremost national art museum in its support of Australian art,’’ she said.

Ms Devenport’s legacy includes:

GROWING audiences to 1.8 million in 2023 for the Tarnanthi Festival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art and reaching $8.1 million in art sales through the art fair, making Tarnanthi Australia’s leading First Nations art festival and creating opportunities for First Nations artists across the country.

EXPANSION of AGSA’s collection with major acquisitions, including works by Chris Ofili, Daniel Boyd, Nalini Malani, Olafur Eliasson, Sonia Delaunay, Jeffrey Smart and Giorgio de Chirico. Important new works across all media were wholly acquired through philanthropic support, fundraising and a series of major bequests.

AN INCREASED international exhibition touring program, including Living Rocks: A fragment of the universe, an official Venice Biennale Arte and touring the First Nations exhibition Kulata Tjuta to France and Germany.

Art Gallery of SA director Rhana Devenport. Picture Matt Turner

A BROADENED national exhibition touring program, including Quilty, Kungka Kuṉpu: Strong Women, Brent Harris: Surrender and Catch, and Vincent Namatjira: Australia in Colour which is currently showing at the National Gallery of Australia.

LANDMARK publication in 2024 of AGSA 500 celebrating 500 works of art selected from AGSA’s collection, just one per cent of the entire collection.

Ms Devenport has also personally curated three international projects: Lee Mingwei: Sonic Blossom, Nalini Malani: Gamepieces and Robert Wilson: Moving Portraits to critical and visitor acclaim.

Minister for the Arts Andrea Michaels said Ms Devenport would leave the Gallery with “an enviable reputation and a strong plan for the future’’. “She has championed artists, led an immensely talented curatorial team and grown South Australia’s incredible collection,’’ Ms Michaels said. “I would like to congratulate her on AGSA’s most recent and resounding success, the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art on display now which continues to play a key role nationally in connecting Australian audiences with the contemporary artists of our time.’’

Originally published as Art Gallery of SA boss Rhana Devenport to exit after six trailblazing years