Professor Roger Benjamin
Research Coordinator
Born and raised in Canberra, ACT, Roger Benjamin took an Honours degree in Philosophy and Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne in 1979. His MA and PhD were undertaken at Bryn Mawr College outside Philadelphia, whence his doctoral work on early Matisse took him to Paris (1982-83). Roger was appointed in 1984 as Lecturer in Fine Arts at Melbourne where he worked until 1998. From 1998-2000 he was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Cross-Cultural Research, Australian National University. He then taught at the ANU School of Art until his appointment as Power Professor and Director of the Power Institute at the University of Sydney (2003). From 2007 he has been Professor of Art History in the Discipline of Art History at the University of Sydney. His visiting fellowships include the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris) and the Clark Art Institute (Williamstown, Mass.). In 2013 Professor Benjamin was awarded the prestigious 3-year Discovery Outstanding Researcher Award (DORA) of the Australian Research Council. In 2020 he was awarded a major ARC Discovery grant.
Professor Benjamin's ARC Discovery project is: "Art and cultural exchange at the Strait of Gibraltar". His research fields include Matisse and the art of the Fauves; French Orientalist art and colonialism 1830-1930; historical Australian art, Indigenous Australian art; and modernist architecture in Canberra and the Snowy Mts Scheme.
Professor Benjamin's undergraduate courses include: "Pollock to Psychedelia", "French Art: from Salon to Cézanne", and "Art is the Issue: Histories and Theories of Art" (Honours); at Master's level "The Art Museum: Past, Present and Future".
Professor Benjamin supervises Honours, Master's and PhD theses in the fields of Aboriginal Art, European Art, and Orientalist art.
Art and Cultural Exchange at the Strait of Gibraltar
The Visual Culture of the Snowy Mountains Scheme (1949-74)
Art Association of Australia and New Zealand
Australian Academy of the Humanities
Fellow of theAustralian Academy of the Humanities (2006)
Robert Motherwell Book Award for Best Book on Modern Art (for Orientalist Aesthetics, 2003)
Arthur Kingsley Porter Prize for Best Essay in The Art Bulletin (for "The Decorative Landscapeand the Arabesque of Observation"1993)
Selected publications
Publications
Books
- Benjamin, R. (2022). Growing Up Modern: Canberra's Round House and Alex Jelinek. Braddon, A.C.T.: Halstead Press. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2016). Biskra: Sortileges d'une Oasis. Paris: Institut du Monde Arabe.
- Benjamin, R. (2015). Kandinsky and Klee in Tunisia. Oakland: University of California Press. [More Information]
Edited Books
- Benjamin, R. (2006). Juan Davila. Carlton VIC: The Miegunyah Press.
- Benjamin, R. (2003). Renoir and Algeria. New Haven, USA: Yale University Press.
Book Chapters
- Benjamin, R. (2020). Arthur Streeton's Venice. In Wayne Tunnicliffe (Eds.), Streeton, (pp. 213-224). Sydney, Australia: Art Gallery of New South Wales.
- Benjamin, R. (2018). L'oasis de Biskra au temps de Gustave Guillaumet. In Annick Notter, Anne Lienard, Bruno Gaudichon (Eds.), L'Algerie de Gustave Guillament (1840-1887), (pp. 109-115). Montreuil, France: Gourcuff Gradenigo.
- Benjamin, R. (2016). Le secret de Paul Klee: l'art 'indigene' de Kairouan. In Guy Barthelemy, Dominique Casajus, Sylvette Larzul, Mercedes Volait (Eds.), L'orientalisme apres la Querelle: Dans les pas de Francois Pouillon, (pp. 11-18). Paris: Karthala.
Journals
- Benjamin, R. (2020). A Studio for Lina Bryans: Alex Jelinek at Erin Street Richmond. RMIT Design Archives Journal, 10(1), 50-61. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2019). Matisse at the Senya el Hashti: Diplomacy and Decoration in an Anglo-Moroccan Garden. Art Bulletin, 101(3), 66-87. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2018). Book review: Elizabeth A. Fraser, Mediterranean Encounters: Artists Between Europe and the Ottoman Empire, 1774-1839. University Park, Pa: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2017. H-France Review, 18(1), 1-5. [More Information]
Visual Art
- Benjamin, R. (2013). Imprint: Growing Up Planned. In: Imprint: Growing Up Planned. Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Canberra, Australia.
Textual Creative Works
- Benjamin, R. (2021). Voyage and Vision in the art of Matisse. Matisse: Life and Spirit. Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris, (pp. 33 - 39). Sydney, Australia: Art Gallery of New South Wales.
- Benjamin, R. (2020). Arthur Streeton's Venice. Arthur Streeton, (pp. 213 - 224). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Art Gallery of New South Wales. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2018). Biskra aux temps de Gustave Guillaumet. L'Algerie de Gustave Guillaumet (1840-1887), (pp. 109 - 116). Montreuil, France: Gourcuff Gradenigo. [More Information]
Exhibitions / Events
- Benjamin, R., Grammont, C. (2017). Biskra: rever d'une oasis. Nice, France: Musee Matisse. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2016). Biskra: Visions of an Oasis, 1844-2014. Salle d'exposition temporaire, Paris, France: Institut du Monde Arabe. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2009). Icons of the Desert: Early Aboriginal Paintings from Papunya. Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, USA, New York, United States of America: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.
Magazine / Newspaper Articles
- Benjamin, R. (2024). A spectacular tome: Vincent Namatjira's humour and intense vision. Australian Book Review, 463. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2024). Can you control your image? Gina Rinehart, King Charles and 'moral portraits'. The Conversation. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2023). 'Rembrandt: True to Life'. Etched with Feeling. ABR: Australian Book Review, 456. [More Information]
Reference Works
- Benjamin, R. (2012). Alex Jelinek. (pp. 365-366).
- Benjamin, R. (2011). Alex Jelinek. In Phillip Goad and Julie Willis (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture. (pp. 365-366). Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge University Press.
Other
- Benjamin, R. (2022), Virginia Spate FAHA, 1937-2022. [More Information]
2024
- Benjamin, R. (2024). A spectacular tome: Vincent Namatjira's humour and intense vision. Australian Book Review, 463. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2024). Can you control your image? Gina Rinehart, King Charles and 'moral portraits'. The Conversation. [More Information]
2023
- Benjamin, R. (2023). 'Rembrandt: True to Life'. Etched with Feeling. ABR: Australian Book Review, 456. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2023). Kandinsky: Vasily Kandinsky from the Guggenheim. Art Gallery of New South Wales. ABR: Australian Book Review, 460. [More Information]
2022
- Benjamin, R. (2022). Growing Up Modern: Canberra's Round House and Alex Jelinek. Braddon, A.C.T.: Halstead Press. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2022). My pilgrimage to the site of Paul Klee's Hammamet with Its Mosque. The Conversation. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2022), Virginia Spate FAHA, 1937-2022. [More Information]
2021
- Benjamin, R. (2021). Voyage and Vision in the art of Matisse. Matisse: Life and Spirit. Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris, (pp. 33 - 39). Sydney, Australia: Art Gallery of New South Wales.
2020
- Benjamin, R. (2020). A Studio for Lina Bryans: Alex Jelinek at Erin Street Richmond. RMIT Design Archives Journal, 10(1), 50-61. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2020). Arthur Streeton's Venice. Arthur Streeton, (pp. 213 - 224). Sydney, NSW, Australia: Art Gallery of New South Wales. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2020). Arthur Streeton's Venice. In Wayne Tunnicliffe (Eds.), Streeton, (pp. 213-224). Sydney, Australia: Art Gallery of New South Wales.
2019
- Benjamin, R. (2019). Matisse at the Senya el Hashti: Diplomacy and Decoration in an Anglo-Moroccan Garden. Art Bulletin, 101(3), 66-87. [More Information]
2018
- Benjamin, R. (2018). Biskra aux temps de Gustave Guillaumet. L'Algerie de Gustave Guillaumet (1840-1887), (pp. 109 - 116). Montreuil, France: Gourcuff Gradenigo. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2018). Book review: Elizabeth A. Fraser, Mediterranean Encounters: Artists Between Europe and the Ottoman Empire, 1774-1839. University Park, Pa: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2017. H-France Review, 18(1), 1-5. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2018). I kicked a winning goal only to have the minister disallow it. The Sydney Morning Herald. [More Information]
2017
- Benjamin, R., Grammont, C. (2017). Biskra: rever d'une oasis. Nice, France: Musee Matisse. [More Information]
2016
- Benjamin, R. (2016). Biskra: Sortileges d'une Oasis. Paris: Institut du Monde Arabe.
- Benjamin, R. (2016). Biskra: Visions of an Oasis, 1844-2014. Salle d'exposition temporaire, Paris, France: Institut du Monde Arabe. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2016). Le secret de Paul Klee: l'art 'indigene' de Kairouan. In Guy Barthelemy, Dominique Casajus, Sylvette Larzul, Mercedes Volait (Eds.), L'orientalisme apres la Querelle: Dans les pas de Francois Pouillon, (pp. 11-18). Paris: Karthala.
2015
- Benjamin, R. (2015). Kandinsky and Klee in Tunisia. Oakland: University of California Press. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R., Escoriza Escoriza, E., Kindred, E. (2015). Tom Roberts and Friends at the Alhambra. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Art, 15(1), 52-74. [More Information]
2014
- Benjamin, R. (2014). 'Schone Aquarelle': Paul Klee and Indigenous Art from Kairouan. In Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern (Eds.), The Journey to Tunisia, 1914: Paul Klee, August Macke, Louis Moilliet, (pp. 232-239). Ostfildern, Germany: Hatje Cantz Verlag.
- Benjamin, R. (2014). Colonial Panoramania. In Martin Jay, Sumathi Ramaswamy (Eds.), Empires of Vision: A Reader, (pp. 111-137). Durham: Duke University Press.
- Benjamin, R. (2014). Klee, Macke, Moilliet: Trois modernes en Tunisie. Qantara: Magazine des cultures arabe et méditerranéenne, 91(Spring), 12-15.
2013
- Benjamin, R. (2013). Imprint: Growing Up Planned. In: Imprint: Growing Up Planned. Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Canberra, Australia.
- Benjamin, R. (2013). Like a Poem. Tim Johnson: The Luminescent Ground, (pp. 9 - 22). Birmingham, United Kingdom: Ikon.
2012
- Benjamin, R. (2012). Alex Jelinek. (pp. 365-366).
- Benjamin, R. (2012). Colliding Landscapes: Dunhuang Cave Temples and the Tim Johnson System. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Art, 12, 200-223. [More Information]
- Benjamin, R. (2012). Indigenous Identity, from Papunya to Proppa Now. Academic Exchanges between the University of Tsukuba and the University of Sydney, Tokyo, Japan: University of Tsukuba, Japan.
2011
- Benjamin, R. (2011). Alex Jelinek. In Phillip Goad and Julie Willis (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture. (pp. 365-366). Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge University Press.
- Benjamin, R. (2011). Profits and Cultural Empowerment (1990). How Aborigines invented the idea of contemporary art. Writings on Aboriginal contemporary art, (pp. 296 - 297). Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia: Institute of Modern Art.
- Benjamin, R. (2011). The Fallacy of Aboriginal Modernism (1998). How Aborigines invented the idea of contemporary art. Writings on Aboriginal contemporary art, (pp. 227 - 228). Fortitude Valley, Queensland, Australia: Institute of Modern Art.
2010
- Benjamin, R. (2010). Art and Soul in the Desert: review of Once Upon a Time in Papunya by Vivien Johnson. The Australian Literary Review, 6 October 2010, (pp. 9 - 10). Sydney, Australia: News Limited.
- Benjamin, R. (2010). Collector's dossier: Tim Johnson. Australian Art Collector, issue number 52, Sydney, Australia: Gadfly Media Custom Publishing Service.
- Benjamin, R. (2010). Le voyage en Orient: de L' Orientalisme Moderniste. In Soline Massot (Eds.), De Delacroix a Kandinsky: LOrientalisme en Europe, (pp. 204-225). Brussels: Editions Hazan.
2009
- Benjamin, R. (2009). Collecting Passions: A Century of Modern Art from the Home of Justice Roddy Meagher. Passions: A Century of Modern Art from the Home of Justice Roddy Meagher, Sydney, Australia: University of Sydney.
- Benjamin, R., Myers, F., Johnson, V., Kimber, R., Perkins, H. (2009). Icons of the desert: early aboriginal paintings from Papunya. (pp. 12 - 48). New York, United States of America: Cornell University.
- Benjamin, R. (2009). Icons of the Desert: Early Aboriginal Paintings from Papunya. Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, USA, New York, United States of America: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.
2008
- Benjamin, R. (2008). The Henson defence. The Weekend Australian, 31 May 2008, (pp. 25 - 25). Sydney, Australia: News Limited.
2007
- Benjamin, R. (2007). Guggenheim on the Yarra. Australian Financial Review Magazine, 28/06/2007, (pp. 56 - 58). Afghanistan: John Fairfax Group.
2006
- Benjamin, R. (2006). Juan Davila. Carlton VIC: The Miegunyah Press.
- Benjamin, R. (2006). The Mesh of Images. In Caroline Williamson (Eds.), Juan Davila, (pp. 26-37). Carlton VIC: The Miegunyah Press.
2005
- Benjamin, R. (2005). "Prophets of the Desert", review of Geoffrey Bardon and James Bardon, Papunya-A Place made after the Story: The Beginnings of the Western Desert Painting Movement.
- Benjamin, R. (2005). Andalusia in the time of the Moors: regret and colonial presence in Paris, 1900. In Jocelyn Hackforth-Jones; Mary Roberts (Eds.), Edges of Empire: Orientalism and Visual Culture, (pp. 181-205). Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers.
- Benjamin, R. (2005). From Tomes to Terabytes: Confessions of an art historian in the age of visual culture. Art & Australia, (pp. 246 - 249). Paddington, Australia: Art and Australia Pty Ltd.
2004
- Benjamin, R. (2004). Crossing country: The alchemy of Western Arnhem Land art in Sydney. Art Monthly Australia No 176, (pp. 12 - 15). Canberra, Australia: Art Monthly Australia.
- Benjamin, R. (2004). Orientalism, Modernism And Indigenous Identity. In Steve Edwards and Paul Wood (Eds.), Art of the Avant-Gardes, (pp. 85-107). New Haven and London: Nicholson Museum, University of Sydney.
2003
- Benjamin, R. (2003). "Gordon Bennett", "Angela Brennan", "Juan Davila", "Michael Nelson Jagamarra", "Tim Johnson", "Emily Kam Kngwarray", "Ross Moore", "Peter Tyndall", "HJ Wedge". See Here Now: Vizard Foundation Art Collection of the 1990s, Melbourne, Australia: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
- Benjamin, R. (2003). Afterimages: Algerian echoes in Renoir's late work. In Roger Benjamin (Eds.), Renoir and Algeria, (pp. 109-117). New Haven, USA: Yale University Press.
- Benjamin, R. (2003). From the studio to the street: Renoir's Algiers figure paintings. In Roger Benjamin (Eds.), Renoir and Algeria, (pp. 81-108). New Haven, USA: Yale University Press.
2002
- Benjamin, R. (2002). Colonial Tutelage to Nationalist Affirmation: Mammeri and Racim, Painters of the Maghreb. In Jill Beaulieu and Mary Roberts (Eds.), Orientalism's Interlocutors: Painting, Architecture, Photography, (pp. 43-78). Durham UK: Duke University Press.
- Benjamin, R. (2002). Schulim Krimper; Gordon Bennett. Canberra, Australia: National Gallery of Australia.
2001
- Benjamin, R. (2001). Ingres chez les Fauves. In Adrian Rifkin and Susan Siegfried (Eds.), Fingering Ingres, (pp. 93-121). United States: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Selected Grants
2020
- Art and Cultural Exchange at the Strait of Gibraltar, Benjamin R, Kindred E, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP)
2018
- Double Crossing: Art and politics at the Strait of Gibraltar, Benjamin R, DVC Research/Bridging Support Grant
In the media
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29/09/2024 - interviewed on artistic representation and societal perceptions on ABC Radio National
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20/09/2024 - featured in The Canberra Times article: He escaped in a hijacked plane, then designed a Canberra modernist marvel
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28/05/2024 - quoted in The Guardian: Comedian drops plan for a billboard of Gina Rinehart portrait in Times Square
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27/05/2024 - guest on 2CC "Talking Canberra" to talk about about a portrait of Gina Rinehart that she would like to be removed from display
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26/05/2024 - Interviewed on ABC Radio National about Vincent Vincent Namatjira's exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia
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22/05/2024 - guest on ABC Radio National "The Art Show" following a bid to remove a portrait of Gina Rinehart from display: The influence of Japanese ukiyo-e + Gina Rinehart's picture drama
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20/05/2024 - interviewed on 2CC "Talking Canberra" about portraiture, following a bid to remove a portrait of Gina Rinehart from display
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20/05/2024 - article from The Conversation republished on InDaily: Can you control your image? Gina Rinehart and ‘moral portraits’
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2018/11/05 - 20-minute interview with Philip Adams on Late Night Live (ABC’s Radio National with co-guest Prof Joy Damousi) concerning the 11 ARC grants axed by Minister Birmingham.
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31/10/2023 - “I kicked a winning goal only to have Simon Birmingham disallow it”, Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday, p23.
- 14/03/2014 - interview on ABC Radio National "RN Breakfast" with Fran Kelly: Art History Professor on Biennale funding stoush
Conference convenor:·
- 2 panels: Colonial Monuments, Decolonising Impacts, and Memory of the Modern, at the AAANZ Annual Conference, IMPACT, University of Sydney, 9th December 2021
- Paul Klee in Peace and War: from Tunisia to the German Home Front, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, 22 July 2014.