CANBERRA.- The National Gallery of Australia today announced the appointment of Dr Michael Gunn to the newly created position of Senior Curator, Pacific Arts. Dr Gunn joins the National Gallery of Australia from Missouri, America where he has been Associate Curator, Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas at the Saint Louis Art Museum since 1999.

“We are delighted to welcome Michael Gunn to the newly created position of Senior Curator of Pacific Arts,” said Ron Radford, Director of the National Gallery of Australia. “Dr Gunn’s appointment is a key development in the National Gallery’s commitment to increased engagement with Pacific Arts.”

Dr Gunn will be in Canberra for the opening on Thursday 9 October of Gods, Ghosts and Men: Pacific Arts from the National Gallery of Australia, curated by Curator of Pacific Arts, Crispin Howarth.

From 1994 to 1999 Dr Gunn was Associate Curator in the Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Dr Gunn has worked on numerous exhibitions and gallery displays. Most importantly he worked with Philippe Peltier at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris on the New Ireland – Art of the South Pacific exhibition. This exhibition opened in Saint Louis in 2006 and traveled to Paris and Berlin.

Dr Gunn is also currently the President of the International Pacific Arts Association. “Michael has been a tremendous asset to the Saint Louis Art Museum during his tenure here,” said Saint Louis Art Museum Director Brent R Benjamin. “We are deeply proud of his many achievements, and wish him every success in Australia.”