About the project

The Art Gallery of Ballarat held a single work by Meek, Ballarat’s Historical Gum-Tree, an idiosyncratic graphic artwork designed around a wild political polemic. We needed to know more about this artist, his life, his works, and his connection with Ballarat.

In the course of the research a considerable number of works, largely unknown, came to light and the plan formed to mount an exhibition marking his 200th birthday in June 2015.

At this point, there was strong material for a PhD and Federation University Australia was the lynchpin of the project as it developed.

An accompanying illustrated catalogue, including a series of essays on Meek and his body of work, and you will soon be able to buy the catalogue via the Gallery’s website.

The PhD is complete but there is no concern that Mr Meek will fade into obscurity again. The project has attracted a lot of interest, and has prompted conservation on his works in various collections. It has not so much put Mr Meek back on the radar, as launched his next career!

Federation University Australia is pleased to be a major sponsor of ‘The Inimitable Mr Meek’ website, and to support the associated PhD degree that was awarded in 2017.

This project is innovative in design and entailed close collaboration with the Art Gallery of Ballarat. It also drew on the resources of other significant Ballarat institutions, including the collections held by the Gold Museum, the Ballarat Mechanics’ Institute and the Australiana Collection at the Ballarat Public Library.

You can find information on Federation University Australia courses and resources at http://federation.edu.au

The Art Gallery of Ballarat is the oldest regional gallery in Australia. It offers a fine collection of Australian art, presented in its original, purpose-built, heritage-listed building that opened in 1890 and has been in continuous use for over 125 years.

The Gallery was delighted to mount the exhibition of James Meek’s works from June to August 2015, and published the accompanying catalogue. For more information on the Gallery, its collection and current events, see http://www.artgalleryofballarat.com.au