Adrian Rodney Newstead OAM, (born 1948) is a Sydney-based gallerist, art dealer, author and art commentator. He is notable for his long-term role in the development of the contemporary Aboriginal art market. His Coo-ee Gallery in Bondi is the oldest dedicated Aboriginal art gallery in Australia, having opened in Paddington in 1981.[1] It was among the earliest galleries to promote Urban Indigenous art[2] and organised the first exhibition of Tiwi art in 1983.[3]

Adrian Newstead served as the head of Aboriginal art for the Lawson-Menzies auction house from 2003 to 2007, facilitating among other sales the purchase of Emily Kame Kngwarreye’s "Earth's Creation" for $1,056,000 in 2007.[4] He was head of auction house Deutscher-Menzies in 2007. His 2014 book The Dealer is the Devil: An Insider’s History of the Aboriginal Art Trade recounts the history of the Aboriginal art movement from an art dealer’s perspective.[5] Newstead was one of the founders of the Australian Indigenous Art Trade Association (Art.Trade).[6] As a commentator he has been vocal on a number of issues including the Resale Royalty Scheme.[7]

In 2016, Newstead received an Order of Australia Medal "for service to the museum and galleries sector, particularly through the promotion of Indigenous arts."[8][9] The same year he organised the first touring exhibition of Australian Aboriginal art in South America, O Tempo dos Sonhos, along with Indigenous curator Djon Mundine and Brazilian curator Clay D'Paula.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Chenery, Susan. "Art dealer Adrian Newstead's remote control". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  2. ^ Myers, Fred R. (2002). Painting Culture: The Making of an Aboriginal High Art. Durham and London: Duke University Press. p. 321.
  3. ^ "Influence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander textiles on non-indigenous designers". Powerhouse Museum. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  4. ^
  5. ^
  6. ^ Simpson, Shane (January 1999). "Art Trade: An Ethical Vision". Australian Art Collector: 100.
  7. ^ Taylor, Andrew. "Art resale royalties an 'abject failure' for Indigenous artists". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Adrian Newstead - OAM". Australian Honours. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 13 June 1993. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Australia Day Honours 2016: the full list". The Sydney Morning Herald. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Caixa Cultural São Paulo Exibe a Arte Aborígene Contemporânea da Austrália (Portuguese)". caixa.gov.br. Caixa Cultural. Retrieved 24 August 2016.