Maxwell, Helen

Field of activity
Art Collector and Curator
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35118338
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-475418

Biographies

Helen Maxwell is best known as a curator of contemporary art in Canberra.

Helen Maxwell is a Canberran who has not been afraid to deliver her own brand of desires through showcasing contemporary art in the ACT since 1989. As an assistant art curator with the National Gallery of Australia in the department of Australian Art, Maxwell was inspired and, more importantly, determined to branch out and create her own breed of gallery.

The first incarnation of Maxwell's distinctive spirit was aGOG, standing for australian Girls' Own Gallery and, as the name suggests, made a stir by showing women's art only. The small 'a' for Australian was an equally deliberate point being 'slightly anti-nationalistic' in flavour. Speaking about the decision to exhibit solely women's art, Maxwell said she felt very strongly about it at the time: ‘A number of people objected to it, argued with me and said it was sexist. But there were also many supporters to whom I will always be grateful and for me it felt right and that was important. I felt that the opportunities for men to show their work was still much greater than those for women.’

Setting up in a space in Leichhardt Street Studios, Kingston, Maxwell was amazed at the rapid response she received from artists, eager to exhibit: ‘You know the first exhibition was organised before I even knew whether I was going to open.’ From the beginning she was committed to bringing in artists from across the nation. While acknowledging it would have been easy to stock from the abundant local talent pool, Maxwell wished to deter any potential for parochialism and instead perhaps push the community's boundaries.

Personal politics is another prerequisite in Helen Maxwell’s selection criteria when choosing an artist to exhibit in her gallery: "When I look at artists' work, the work has to be political, not necessarily overtly (though it may be) or in your face, but it needs to express an artist's personal politics. It has to demonstrate at least a stance that they are taking in their life. At the same time they have to know how to use their medium to successfully express their views."

After ten years of running aGOG, Maxwell decided to shut up shop in 1998, and move to a larger space and broaden her product range - the result was Helen Maxwell Gallery, a large open warehouse space in Braddon near Canberrra’s city centre. This new gallery enabled Maxwell to show larger, more financially viable works, and heralded a change in opening up to male artists as she felt the urgent need for a women’s only policy had abated.

Helen Maxwell Gallery now offers a monthly rotation of new exhibits, showcasing contemporary art from Australia and the Pacific and has a stockroom of both Aboriginal and non-Indigenous art. Some of the artists represented are Jean Baptiste Apuatimi, Vivienne Binns, Yvonne Boag, Tony Coleing, eX de Medici, Annie Franklin, Shayne Higson, Judy Horacek, Marie McMahon, Kate Lohse, Sue Lovegrove, Patsy Payne, Franki Sparke, Neil Roberts (1954-2002), Wilma Tabacco, Paul Uhlmann, Ruth Waller, Megan Walch, Judy Watson and Robin White (NZ).

As well as running a successful, socially engaging enterprise, Helen Maxwell has also been an active member of Canberra’s cultural community, as a member of the ACT Cultural Council, and has served on the Interim Board of Management of the Canberra Museum and Gallery during its initial planning stages. She has also taught Curatorship (Theory and Practice) in the Art History Department at the Australian National University and has joined in sponsorship with the Canberra Times in offering the paper’s Artist of the Year Award.

This entry was prepared by Roslyn Russell, Museum Services, and funded by the ACT Heritage Unit.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Helen Maxwell

Resources by Helen Maxwell (16)

  1. Papers of Helen Maxwell
    Maxwell, Helen
    [ Published : 1989-2005 ]
    Possibly online
    At Nat Gall Aus Res
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 18.605)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 18.605)

  2. Wood engravings / Helen Ogilvie ; edited and with an introduction by Helen Maxwell
    Ogilvie, Helen, 1902-
    [ Book : 1995 ]
    At 15 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.984)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.984)

  3. Australian art : artist's working names authority list / Australian National Gallery
    Australian National Gallery
    [ Book : 1983-1989 ]
    At 17 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.458)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.458)

  4. Checklist, Australian decorative arts / prepared by John McPhee, Helen Maxwell and Christopher Menz
    Australian National Gallery
    [ Periodical : 1985-2011 ]
    At Nat Gall Aus Res
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.438)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.438)

  5. Sanderston ... : where's that? / compiled by Helen Maxwell
    Maxwell, Helen
    [ Book : 1997 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.123)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.123)

  6. ACT and Region
    Maxwell, Helen
    Art Monthly Australia
    [ Article : 2010-2011 ]
    View online (access conditions)
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.97)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.97)

  7. The Land : a folio of original prints by 12 Australasian artists 1992 / essay: Helen Maxwell ; Pam Debenham... [et al.]
    Maxwell, Helen
    [ Book : 1992 ]
    At 4 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.757)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.757)

  8. Home safe home / by Helen Maxwell with Michael Maxwell
    Maxwell, Helen
    [ Book : 1992 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.311)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.311)

  9. Making space : 1998 : Sue Taylor, Janet Meaney, Annette Douglass, Brigid Cole-Adams / [foreword by Helen Maxwell]
    Maxwell, Helen
    [ Book : 1998 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.304)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.304)

  10. Time to go : Robin White : work from 1982 to 2000 : Drill Hall Gallery 8 November - 16 December 2001 / [curated by Helen Maxwell]
    White, Robin, 1946-
    [ Book : 2001 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.503)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.503)

More...

Resources about Helen Maxwell (2)

  1. Papers of Helen Maxwell
    Maxwell, Helen
    [ Published : 1989-2005 ]
    Possibly online
    At Nat Gall Aus Res
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 18.642)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 18.642)

  2. Janenne Eaton and Helen Maxwell at the Helen Maxwell Gallery, Braddon, Canberra, 2007 / William Yang
    Yang, William, 1943-
    [ Photograph : 2007 ]
    Languages: No linguistic content
    View online
    At National Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.475)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.475)

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  1. MAXWELL
    Created by LynneB, 57 items.

    Descendants of James MAXWELL and Janet FINGLAND

  2. Thomas MAXWELL of St George
    Created by LynneB, 44 items.

  3. John Alexander Maxwell Lindsay
    Created by fablin, 8 items.

  1. Maxwell, Helen
    ... Helen Maxwell is best known as a curator of contemporary art in Canberra. Helen Maxwell is a ...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.218)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.218)

  2. Maxwell, Helen K.
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.209)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.209)

  3. Crear, H. M., (Helen Maxwell)
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.115)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.115)

  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 47 matching archived pages
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.13)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.13)

  2. Website: Putting skirts on the sacred benches : women candidates for the New South Wales Parliament
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 4 matching archived pages
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.818)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.818)

  3. Website: International Diabetes Institute
    www.diabetes.com.au
    Matching pages:
    View 34 matching archived pages
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.541)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.541)

  1. Thomson: 'The Mother of Us All.' (Mignon Dunn, Batyah Godfrey, Linn Maxwell, Helen Vanni, Ashley Putnam, James Atherton, Philip Booth, William Lewis, Raymond Leppard, Santa Fe Opera Company)
    Lucano, Ralph V
    American Record Guide
    [ Article : 1990 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.217)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.217)

  2. Julius Caesar / William Shakespeare ; edited by Norman Sanders
    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
    [ Book, Article : 1680-2011 ]
    Languages: English, Chinese, French, [2 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 67 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.053)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.053)

  3. Moby Dick / Herman Melville
    Melville, Herman, 1819-1891
    [ Book, Audio book, Article : 1815-2011 ]
    Languages: English, Chinese, Arabic, [16 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 147 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.973)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.973)

  4. Connecticut Q&A: Helen Maxwell; A Crime Victim Turned Crime Fighter.(Connecticut Weekly Desk)(Interview)
    Collins, Clare
    The New York Times
    [ Article : 1993 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.915)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 0.915)

  1. [Helen Maxwell Gallery : Australasian Art & Artists File]
    Helen Maxwell Gallery
    [ Published ]
    At Nat Gall Aus Res
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.848)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 11.848)

  2. Newham, Helen Maxwell
    Newham | Helen Maxwell | 1896-1974 | teacher
    [ Unpublished : 2002 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.627)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.627)

  3. [Helen Maxwell Gallery : Australian Gallery File]
    Hellen Maxwell Gallery
    [ Published : 2008 ]
    Possibly online
    At State Library of VIC
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.594)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.594)

  1. Big ones little ones : Irrkerlantye etchings
    Helen Maxwell Gallery
    [ Book : 2007 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.469)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.469)

  2. Fez encounter / Virginia Maxwell, Helen Ranger
    Maxwell, Virginia
    [ Book : 2008 ]
    At 7 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.461)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.461)

  3. Myself by myself
    Helen Maxwell Gallery
    [ Book : 2007 ]
    At ACT Public Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.174)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 4.174)

  4. Leave it to Amanda / by Helen K. Maxwell
    Maxwell, Helen K
    [ Book : 1972 ]
    At CARM Centre
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.62)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 3.62)

  1. Census of population and housing, 6 August 1991
    Australian Bureau of Statistics
    [ Book, Map : 1989-1995 ]
    View online
    At 118 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.194)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.194)

  2. Metamorphic map of Australia / compiled 1972-1982 by T.G. Vallance, University of Sydney ... [et al.] ; cartography by J.F. Stirzaker ... [et al.] ; printed by Mercury Walch
    Australia. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics
    [ Map : 1970-1985 ]
    At 16 libraries
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.078)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.078)

  3. Geology and mineralisation of the South Alligator Valley mineral field, Northern Territory / by R.S. Needham
    Needham, R. S. (Raymond Stewart)
    [ Map : 1988-2011 ]
    At 10 libraries
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.066)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.066)

  1. 4 wheel driving doing the outback : the right way / script & technique advice, Grahame Maxwell ; director, Helen Parish
    Maxwell, Grahame
    [ Video : 1990 ]
    At 10 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.345)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.345)

  2. 4 wheel driving ready, set-go : the right way / script & technique advice, Grahame Maxwell ; directed by Helen Parish
    Maxwell, Grahame
    [ Video : 1990 ]
    At 13 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.13)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.13)

  3. Ring of bright water / Gavin Maxwell
    Maxwell, Gavin, 1914-1969
    [ Book, Audio book : 1900-2009 ]
    Languages: English, Italian
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 80 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.407)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.407)

  4. Pericles / edited by F.D. Hoeniger
    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
    [ Book, Audio book : 1609-2010 ]
    Languages: English, Catalan, Italian, Japanese
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 90 libraries
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.1)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.1)

  1. WOMEN TO CANBERRA
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Tuesday 9 March 1943 p 9 Article
    ... ! WOMEN TO CANBERRA (Elwood). Sir: Like many other business women on the provisional committee tee of the Women to Canberra Movement, I resigned some weeks ago, as I could not countenance the ... business-like basis. -HELEN MAX WELL (Elwood). ... 71 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.049)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.049)

  2. Miss Helen Keller Welcomed In Sydney
    The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954) Wednesday 31 March 1948 p 1 Article Illustrated
    ... Miss Helen Keller Welcomed In Sydney Miss Helen Keller receiving a message of welcome from Mr. Justice Maxwell through her secretary-interpreter-observer. Miss Molly Thompson, who can be seen tapping the message through Miss Keller's fingers. Miss Keller is both blind and deaf, but has learned to ... 54 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.043)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.043)

  3. VICE-REGAL
    The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1954) Wednesday 31 March 1948 p 2 Article
    ... VICE.REGAL The Govenor-General (Mr. McKell) received at Admiralty House, Sydney, Group Captain H. R. G. Poatc, Sub Prior of' the Order of St. John of Jeiusalom, Miss Helen Keller and ¡Mr. Justice Maxwell, President of the i Royal Sydney Industrial .Blind In- stitution. ... 43 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.041)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.041)