Sarah Scott

Sarah Scott is a Lecturer at the Centre for Art History and Art Theory, part of the School of Art and Design at the Australian National University (ANU). Her research focuses on crosscurrents between Australian First Nations and non-Indigenous art, Australian modernism, and exhibition history. She teaches the course CrossCurrents in Australian First Nations and Non-Indigenous Art (ARTH2176) and has collaborated with notable figures like Professor Brenda L. Croft.

• Education:
  • PhD in Art History (University of Melbourne, 1998–2004)
  • MA (Courtauld Institute of Art, London)
  • BA (Hons.) (University of Tasmania)

Her research examines cultural representation in Australian modernist art, including the works of Russell Drysdale, Violet Teague, and Byram Mansell, while critically analyzing appropriation and resistance. Recent publications explore the political dimensions of Bill Onus’s cultural revival against assimilationist agendas.

Key research trends include Indigenous-settler art interactions, Cold War-era transnational exhibitions, and the role of patronage in shaping Australian art narratives. Her 2023 co-edited volume Crosscurrents in Australian First Nations and Non-Indigenous Art has received critical acclaim, including endorsement from Emeritus Professor Terry Smith.

Scientific Awards

• Rydon Fellowship (2012) for research on international representation of Australian art

Currently, Sarah is working on a solo-authored book analyzing the representation of First Nations people in Australian settler modernism, with guest lectures integrated into her teaching. She has previously taught at Charles Darwin University, Swinburne School of Design, and the University of Melbourne.