Exclusive gifts

With an ever-expanding range of specialty ACU Art Collection merchandise, the shop is a great source of gift ideas. Highlights include religious and secular items, as well as boutique cultural keepsakes.

We offer interesting and diverse items, including our recent publication ACU Art Collection: A new perspective featuring highlights from the university’s art collection with accompanying essays by scholars, arts writers and commentators. We also have in stock useful notepads highlighting the magnificent oil and tempera on softwood Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist, c.1490, by Matteo di Giovanni (c.1428-95, Italy), and gorgeous greeting card gift sets featuring highlights from the university’s art collection. Take a browse:

New in stock

ACU Art Collection: A new perspective

A richly illustrated publication featuring highlights from the ACU Art Collection with accompanying essays by scholars, arts writers and commentators.

Published by Australian Catholic University, (ACU) 2020, PP 120.
Managing editor; Caroline Field, Curator, ACU Art Collection

I hope that this substantial volume – showcasing some of the compelling works held in the ACU Art Collection – gives its readers pleasure and inspiration, in that great tradition of university art.

Collecting, commissioning and displaying art is a central cultural function of all universities. But it is of particular importance to a Catholic university, for at least three reasons. First, as intrinsic parts of the Catholic Church, Catholic universities share in the greatest artistic tradition in Western (and other) culture. Second, art is one of the chief means by which we see the reflected glory of God, through the genius and sensitivities of his creatures in his creation. Third, specifically Catholic and Christian art is a means through which a Catholic university may express its identity, explicitly, empathetically and in beauty.

This is a path that has been pursued determinedly by Australian Catholic University. Of course, not all art in a Catholic university will be on a specifically religious theme, and such is the case with our own university collection. But any art that inspires and excites can only draw us further into the mystery of what it is to be an intrinsically valuable creation of that greatest artist of all.

Professor Greg Craven AO, GCSG
Vice Chancellor and President,
Australian Catholic University

What people are saying about our recent publication: 

ACU Art Collection: A new perspective
Book review by Margaret Pont

I would like to warmly thank you for asking me to contribute to the splendid monograph highlighting the ACU collection, “A New Perspective”, and for all the hard work you undertook over a long time putting it together. The result is magnificent and I am so happy to be in such good company! It is great to see just what a significant collection of art, both traditional and contemporary, that we have across our campuses. I eagerly anticipate volume two down the track!

Alasdair Macintyre
Associate lecturer, visual arts,
National School of Arts (QLD) 
Australian Catholic University

Very elegantly put together and such a great document of the artistic riches of ACU. 

William Nuttall
Director, Niagara Galleries, Melbourne 

This very attractive book demonstrates the breadth and diversity of the collection and the essays give thorough insights into the works. A great celebration of the collection and the achievements of the curatorial team, looking forward to future directions!

Dr Benjamin Thomas 
Rusden Curator, Cultural Collections, Trinity College, University of Melbourne 

I would like to convey how delighted I am with the publication A New Perspective. It's beautifully produced and accessible to a general audience as well as maintaining the highest scholarly standards. It is a wonderful representation of the treasures held in the Australian Catholic University Art Collection and I commend your enterprise and insight in putting it all together. I was very pleased and grateful to have contributed entries on two superb medieval artworks. 

Dr Hilary Maddocks
Associate, Art History, University of Melbourne

Price: $49.99, case-bound | $45.00, without case

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