Robert Bell (obit) https://nga.gov.au/obituaries/bell.cfm

“The National Gallery of Australia mourns the loss of former Senior Curator of Decorative Arts and Design Dr Robert Bell AM, who passed away 28 July 2018.

Robert entered the museum and arts sector at the young age of 19, and spent the next 50 years of his life championing crafts and design in Australia, amassing a vast knowledge and contributing significantly and consistently to the scholarship, nationally and internationally, of his chosen field.

He was born in Perth and, as a design graduate from the Western Australian Institute of Technology, started as the Senior Exhibits Designer at the Western Australian Museum in 1967. He joined the Art Gallery of Western Australia as its inaugural curator of Craft and Design in 1978 and was the curator and director of the major recurrent international event the Australian International Crafts Triennial, held in 1989, 1992 and 1998.

Before retiring from the museum sector in November last year, he dedicated 16 years to shaping the NGA’s internationally renowned decorative arts and design collection, which includes 12,000 works of contemporary and historic ceramics, glass, textiles, metalwork, jewellery, furniture, industrial design, costume and theatre arts.

‘We are saddened by the loss of a great curator and friend to many at the gallery,’ said Nick Mitzevich, NGA Director. ‘His service to the NGA resulted in a collection of international magnitude of which we are very proud. Our thoughts are with his wife, Eugenie Keefer Bell, and his family at this time.’

During his time with the NGA, Robert contributed to policy and research and greatly enriched the national collection. He oversaw the acquisition of 4875 Australian and 280 international decorative arts and design works, making the NGA’s holdings among the richest in Australia. He was also responsible for major exhibitions such as Material Culture: Aspects of contemporary Australian craft and design in 2002 and Transformations: The language of craft in 2005, among many others.” [...]

Writers:

Michael Bogle
Date written:
2021
Last updated:
2021