Naomi Milgrom takes her art and some Frank Sinatra to Auckland

–

Naomi Milgrom

–

Ms. Milgrom has opted for the Auckland Art Gallery to become the first public institution that will display her impressive collection of contemporary art. Yet this is no ordinary exhibition, one with a message based around one of “Old Blue Eyes” most famous tunes.

Naomi Milgrom is not only rightfully gained recognition for being one of Australia’s key players on the business scene but also having a tremendous understanding and outstanding eye for all that’s new in the world of contemporary art.

Until recently Ms. Milgrom has kept her considerable collection behind closed doors but all that is due to change very shortly when 22 works from her collection will go on show at the Auckland Art Gallery in an exhibition that is due to run the 31^st August of this year until the end of January 2014.

The exhibition will go under the unusual title of A Puppet, a Pauper, a Pirate, a Poet, a Pawn and a King, with the title theme based on a classic Frank Sinatra song “That’s Life” written by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon , and recorded by the late crooner in 1966.

The “A Puppet, a Pauper, a Pirate, a Poet, a Pawn and a King” exhibition includes works by African-American artist Kara Walker , Turner Prize winner Martin Boyce, German photographers Andreas Gorky and Thomas Demand , South African interdisciplinary artist William Kent Ridge and Polish artist Wilhelm Sasnal. These works will be on public display for the very first time. .

Each work of art on display at the exhibition is supposed to depict one of the aspects of life portrayed in the song’s lyrics.

Ms Milgrom pointed out that the Auckland New Zealand exhibition will mark the first time she has ever shown a group of works from her collection in public. “ I can’t wait for people to experience the works. “ She summed up

Rhana Devenport , only recently appointed to the post of director at the Auckland Art Gallery expressed her delight at the company being chosen to profile this remarkable and internationally significant private collection.

At the same time Auckland Art Gallery’s Curator of Contemporary Art Natasha Copland explained that the exhibition touches on the different roles and influences artists explore today, while at the same time displaying the capacity for artists to reinvent, reinterpret and transition between the spectrum of different media.

“The exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the private collection of one of Australasia’s foremost contemporary art collectors and an important advocate for the arts. Naomi Milgrom is not only building a significant private collection, but is also a major supporter of art education and cultural projects in the southern hemisphere. “Ms. Copland followed up by explaining.

Naomi Milgrom was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, going on to graduate with a BA degree from the city’s Monash University.

After graduation Ms Milgrom joined the family’s businesses, the retail fashion chain Sussan Corp, in 1998 rising to the post of managing director , and five years later buying her parents and sibling’s shares in the enterprise that traded under the names of Sussan, Suzanne Grae and Sportsgirl.

Under her leadership, the Sussan Group has grown to become Australia’s largest privately owned specialty fashion retailer, operating more than 550 stores throughout Australia and New Zealand.

In 2010, Ms. Milgrom received an Officer of the Order of Australia award “for service to business as a leader and mentor in the fashion industry, and to the community through advisory and management roles on a wide range of arts, health and philanthropic bodies”.

Naomi Milgrom is known throughout Australia for being a benefactor to the arts, health, welfare and the world of science and education, as well as the country’s Jewish community.