I forgot to add this title to my last Books from Australia post. McCulloch’s Encyclopedia of Australian Art is the definitive guide to Australia’s visual artists. Touted as both a scholarly reference and an easy browse, the book is a hefty 1200 pages. This will tip the scales at the airport if you try to bring it back in your luggage.
The editors have done a great job listing 1,000s of artists, with concise biographical information for the majority of the artists and elaborated descriptions for well known artists like Boyd, Perceval, Shead, Smart, etc. Believe it or not, this isn’t 100% complete. There are still artists missing from the guide; not just new artists — mid-career too. That’s not a criticism at all. This is a great resource. The art scene is growing rapidly in Australia and it’s difficult for a book of this scale to keep up with the times. Maybe they could publish an annual soft-cover update …
$295 + shipping. Ship this behemoth by boat. Air mail cost would be frightening.