about stewart russell

Stewart Russell’s art practice employs a range of media to examine narratives of cultural inheritance, collective identity, nationalism and social justice. The projects are realised through creative collaboration, co-operation and the involvement of others in their subject and their delivery. In 2000 Stewart Russell relocated to Melbourne from London where he was director of London Printworks (1993-99). In Melbourne he established Spacecraft, a production studio to realise self-initiated and collaborative projects with fellow artists, architects and fashion designers. Artworks created at his Melbourne studio are found in public spaces, galleries and collections across the world. 

An iteration of Russell’s long standing project On Top of the World was commissioned by the NGV for Melbourne Now in 2013. The project was located on sixteen flag poles across the city while copies of the flags filled the Great Hall at the NGV. Flag sites included the West Gate Bridge, Melbourne Town Hall, the Royal Exhibition Buildings, Flinders Street Station… In 2023 Russell presented Reverse Anthem at Melbourne Now II a work that he’d started with long time collaborator Kate Daw. Kate sadly passed before the work was realised. 

From 2006 – 2020 Daw & Russell ran a collaborative practice which realised significant gallery projects including Reverse Anthem (2023) National Gallery of Victoria, A Simple Act (2007) NGV, Two Homes (2016) Potter Museum of Art University of Melbourne, The Waiting Room (2020) Sarah Scout and publicly sited projects including Civil Twilight End (2010). Their awards as Daw & Russell include the inaugural MCG fellowship (2012).