Hany Armanious, one of Australia’s foremost artists, will take up the position of Head of Sculpture at the National Art School from the beginning of the 2019 academic year.

The official artist for the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2011, Armanious’ work is held in numerous Australian and international public collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego.

Steven Alderton, Director of the National Art School said:
​“The National Art School is delighted to welcome Hany Armanious to our staff. As Head of Sculpture we know he will bring his vast knowledge and skills in sculpture to the School, building on our strong reputation in this discipline and inspiring the next generation of artists working in sculpture.”

A warm, experienced and inspirational educator, Hany Armanious has been teaching in the higher education context since 1998, as a lecturer at Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney, the College of Fine Art, UNSW and most recently as a full time permanent lecturer at Queensland College of Art, Griffith University. At QCA he has been responsible for the design and implementation of a new sculpture curriculum, expanding the understanding of the role of sculpture in contemporary art, with an emphasis on merging skills and material possibilities with conceptual rigour.

Represented by Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Hany Armanious’ most recent exhibition for the Gallery was held in 2018. Since 1991 he has held more than 30 solo exhibitions in Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany. In 2001 his work was the subject of an exhibition curated by Connie Butler at the Armand Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, with a further solo exhibition held in 2008 at the Contemporary Art Museum, St Louis, curated by Anthony Huberman. In 2007 an extensive survey exhibition was held at The Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, which toured to the City Gallery, Wellington in 2008.

In addition to these solo exhibitions, Hany Armanious has participated in more than 50 group exhibitions in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Great Britain, USA, Italy, Germany, Australia, Spain and South Africa. These include the important exhibition Post Picasso at the Museu Picasso, Barcelona, curated by Michael Fitzgerald, as well as Mutatis Mutandis at the Vienna Secession, curated by Cathrine David.

Hany Armanious is excited to be working at Australia’s leading independent fine art school and said:
​“I am delighted to be taking up the position as Head of Sculpture at the National Art School and looking forward to working with the staff and students at this wonderful School. The Sculpture department is already highly regarded and I am very much looking forward to making a significant contribution to the National Art School.”

Steven Alderton has paid tribute to Ron Robertson Swann OAM who was the previous longstanding Head of Sculpture who provided astute leadership in bringing the Sculpture department to the strong standing it has today. Alderton also recognised the insightful direction and commitment brought to the School in 2018 by Jim Croke and David Horton who were joint acting Heads of Department this year. Hany has a strong base to work from with incredibly knowledgeable and skilled artists in Jim, Dave and all the diverse sessional staff working in sculpture at the National Art School.