Bold, creative and responsive to developments in the contemporary visual arts, Samstag is one of Australia's leading university art museums.
Image: Lisa REIHANA, in pursuit of venus [infected], installation view, 2019 Adelaide//International,
Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia. Photography by Sam Noonan.
Samstag Museum of Art is South Australia’s leading contemporary art galleries; its establishment, in 2007, reflects the University’s determination to make a dynamic contribution to the intellectual and cultural life of South Australia and to the Australian tertiary education sector.
Samstag presents a changing exhibitions program of contemporary visual art, and art of the past that has relevance for us today. The program is intended to be of broad interest and educational value to a wide public community. The museum additionally manages the University of South Australia Art Collection and administers the prestigious Samstag Scholarships on behalf of the American-based Trustee of the estate of Gordon Samstag.
Samstag has been named in honour of two distinguished American benefactors to Australian culture, whose remarkable bequest provides opportunities for Australian artists to study overseas, through the University of South Australia.
Mission
Bold, creative and responsive to developments in the contemporary visual arts, Samstag is a leading university art museum known nationally for its outstanding artistic programming. Samstag aims to stimulate, challenge and engage its audiences with a program of diverse and innovative exhibitions, publications and public activities.
As a founding member of the University Art Museums of Australia group (UAMA), we invite all our students, staff and visitors to the University to experience the creativity, innovation and excitement of many great Australian and international artists through Samstag.
History
The University of South Australia's Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art celebrated its opening on 11 October 2007 with the exhibition Wonderful World, a project expressing the scope and sophistication of Australian contemporary art practice, and demonstrating the cultural ambition of the Samstag Museum.
Samstag has evolved to its new identity through several different stages of development since its establishment as the College Gallery c.1977 (SACAE) at the Underdale campus. In 1991 the College Gallery was renamed the University of South Australia Art Museum to coincide with the establishment of the University of South Australia and in 1998 the Museum relocated to the city west campus.
Sustainability
Samstag acknowledges that there is an environmental impact to its work. It is taking steps to implement a more sustainable approach to materials and processes where possible.
Hawke Building, University of South Australia City West campus, 2007. Photograph by Sam Noonan. Courtesy of Samstag Museum of Art.
Entrance to Wirltuti season exhibitions, 2021, Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia. Photograph by Sia Duff. Courtesy of Samstag Museum of Art.
2018 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Divided Worlds, installation view featuring work by Emily FLOYD and Christian THOMPSON, 2018. Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia. Photograph by Sam Noonan. Courtesy of Samstag Museum of Art.
Anne Wallace: Strangeways, installation view, 2020, Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia. Photograph by Sia Duff. Courtesy of Samstag Museum of Art.
Guests climb the stairs to Samstag Level Two, 2021 Adelaide//International, 2021, Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia. Photograph by Sia Duff. Courtesy of Samstag Museum of Art.
The 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony, installation view, 2023, Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia. Photograph by Sia Duff. Courtesy Samstag Museum of Art.
Dana Awartani , installation view, 2024, Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia. Photograph by Sia Duff. Courtesy of Samstag Museum of Art.
The 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony, installation view, 2023, Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia. Photograph by Sia Duff. Courtesy of Samstag Museum of Art.
Bruce Nuske with Khai Liew, installation view, 2024, Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia. Photograph by Sia Duff. Courtesy of Samstag Museum of Art.
