QAGOMA is home to more than 20 000 artworks from Australia and around the world, in every imaginable medium. The Collection is a cultural record shaped by the Gallery’s history and an expression of its aspirations to connect people with the enduring power of art and creativity.
The Gallery’s globally significant collection of contemporary art from Australia, Asia and the Pacific has been developed over more than 30 years as part of the research and relationships built through The Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.
Each work that enters the Collection is considered for how it might contribute to conversations between works, and enrich the visitor experience.
Artistic expressions from the world's oldest continuing culture are drawn from all regions of the country in the Gallery's holdings of Indigenous Australian artworks, especially the rich diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and experiences in Queensland.
The work of Australian artists has been collected by the Gallery since its foundation in 1895. These works date from the colonial period onwards, with rich holdings of paintings and sculptures by Australian expatriate artists living in the United Kingdom and France at the turn of the twentieth century. The Australian art collection tracks developments in the modern movement of the 1950s and 1960s, including abstractions and assemblages and conceptual/post-object art of the late 1960s and 1970s.
QAGOMA’s Contemporary Asian art collection is among the most extensive of its kind in the world, comprising over 1000 works from the late 1960s to the present which shed light on modern historical developments, current environments of social change and evolving models of artistic production. Our contemporary Asian holdings have been shaped by the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art since 1993, reflecting the diversity of art-making contexts in the region and including major new commissioned works.
The Gallery's collection of contemporary Pacific art is the broadest in Australia. With the establishment of the Asia Pacific Triennial (APT) in the early 1990s, the Gallery recognised the importance of actively developing the Pacific collection.
The Gallery's collection of works from Europe, Africa and North and South America includes early European paintings and works on paper, with an emphasis on the Northern Renaissance; British art from the late-18th to late-19th century, including Victorian and Edwardian painting; and modern European and American painting, sculpture, photography and prints from the late 19th century to the second half of the twentieth century.
R. Godfrey Rivers, England/Australia 1858-1925 / Under the jacaranda 1903 / Oil on canvas / 143.4 x 107.2 cm / Purchased 1903 / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / View full image
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Find out more about the work of our conservation specialists, the depth of our Asia Pacific research, or explore the extensive collection of art resources in our Research Library.
The Australian Centre of Asia Pacific Art (ACAPA) examines the artists and artwork of QAGOMA's focus region and holds an extensive and ever-growing Asia Pacific resource archive in our Library.
QAGOMA's Research Library has an extensive collection of art resources that can be enjoyed by visitors to the Gallery. We hold over 50 000 books and exhibition catalogues and close to 250 current journal titles.
We list the motorcycles displayed in ‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ — by year from 1871 until 2020 — these motorcycles were carefully selected for the technical achievements and aesthetic merits they represent.
Showcasing 100 motorcycles, ‘The Motorcycle’ spans the history of this dynamic and versatile vehicle, from its humble origins as an engine bolted to a bicycle to the cutting-edge electric prototypes of the twenty-first century.
The world’s first steam-powered ‘motorcycle’ was assembled in the late 1860s, more than a decade before the first automobile was designed, and by the early twentieth century all the elements of the modern, internal combustion engine–powered motorcycle had developed. Over the next 120 years, changes in design reflected developments in technology, engineering and manufacturing, as well as the motorcycle’s evolving functions as an inexpensive mode of transportation, racing and on- or off-road vehicle and as an expression of individual creativity. These innovations changed the face of transportation, and the motorcycle has not only become an enduring design icon, but also established its place in society through popular culture, literature and film.
‘The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire’ offered a rare opportunity to see geographically and historically diverse motorcycles together in one place. From the hubs of motorcycle manufacturing in the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan to less likely sources of unique designs in New Zealand and Australia, ‘The Motorcycle’ showcased a machine at the pinnacle of design excellence and evokes a world of innovation, excitement and desire.
‘The Motorcycle’ exhibition was in Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from 28 November 2020 until 26 April 2021.
RELATED: Read more about the bikes in ‘THE MOTORCYCLE’ exhibition
AUSTRALIAN DESIGNED: Read about our LOCAL MOTORCYCLE HISTORY
List of motorcycles by year of manufacture
1871 Perreaux Steam Velocipede (above)
France
Collection: Department of Hauts-de-Seine / Museum of the Departmental Domain of Sceaux
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #1 Perreaux Steam Velocipede
DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride
1898 Cleveland Tricycle (above)
USA
Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen, Curator
DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride
1903 Minerva with Mills and Fulford Forecar (above)
Belgium
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger
1906 Spencer (above)
Australia
The Australian Motorlife Museum – Paul Butler Collection
DELVE DEEPER: Australian-born: The Spencer motorcycle story
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #2 Spencer
1908 Indian Single CeDora (above)
USA
Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen Curator
DELVE DEEPER : Indian Single 1908 owned by pioneering stuntwoman Cedora
1912 Henderson Four (above)
USA
Clyde Crouch Collection
DELVE DEEPER: Henderson Four the largest and fastest motorcycle of its time
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger
1914 Whiting (above)
Australia
Lowe Family Collection
DELVE DEEPER: The Australian Whiting: The last word in motorcycle luxury
1914 Harley-Davidson 10F (above)
USA
Harley City Collection
1916 Indian 8-Valve (above)
USA
Arundel Collection
1919 ABC (above)
United Kingdom
Courtesy of the Clyde Crouch Collection
DELVE DEEPER: 5 innovative motorcycles that changed the way we ride
1920 (engine) Indian Scout Special (above)
USA; New Zealand
Collection: Clyde Crouch
DELVE DEEPER: Bert Munro’s 1920 Indian Scout Special still the worlds fastest
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #5 Indian Scout Special
1921 Ner-a-Car
USA
Bunch Family Collection, Don Whalen Curator
1924 Moto Guzzi Tipo Normale
Italy
Collection: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
1924 BMW R32
Germany
Collection: Trevor Dean
1926 Indian Hillclimber
USA
Arundel Collection
1926 Peugeot P104
France
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
1927 Harley-Davidson FHA (above)
USA
Harley City Collection
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger
1928 Harley-Davidson Model SA Peashooter (above)
USA
Harley City Collection
DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger
1928 Scott Flying Squirrel
United Kingdom
Collection of Mr and Mrs Hans Sprangers
1928 Harley-Davidson JDH Special
USA
Harley City Collection
1928 Indian Model 401
USA
Arundel Collection
c.1929 Majestic (above)
France
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
DELVE DEEPER: The MotoThe Majestic, the greatest of all French motorcycle designs
1929 Opel Motoclub Neander
Germany
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
1929 Ariel Model F (above)
United Kingdom
Collection of Bob Muss, Australia
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #4 Ariel Model F
1929 Norton CS1
United Kingdom
Collection of John Richardson
1929 Douglas DT/5 Speedway (above)
USA
Private Collection, Sydney
DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers
1931 Dresch Monobloc
France
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
1933 Harley-Davidson DAH
USA
Harley City Collection
1934 Crocker Speedway (above)
USA
Harley City Collection
DELVE DEEPER: The Crocker motorcycles: Built for speed
DELVE DEEPER: 5 speedway racers
1935 Brough Superior 11-50
United Kingdom
The Peter and Frances Bender Collection
1936 Koehler-Escoffier Motoball Special
France
Collection: Bobby Hass and Hass Moto Museum
1938 Crocker (above)
USA
Harley City Collection
DELVE DEEPER: The Crocker motorcycles: Built for speed
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #3 Crocker
1938 Triumph Speed Twin
United Kingdom
Image courtesy: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
1940 Indian Chief with Sidecar (above)
USA
Arundel Collection
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger
1942 Socovel Electric (above)
Belgium
Collection: Bobby Haas and Haas Moto Museum
DELVE DEEPER: The Socovel Electric — the world’s first mass-produced electric motorcycle
WATCH THE VIDEO: Co-curator Virtual Tour #6 Socovel Electric
1943 Harley-Davidson FL
USA
Kendal Maroney Collection (KMC)
1948 Moto Guzzi Super Alce (above)
Italy
Calleja Collection, Melbourne
DELVE DEEPER: Two’s company: 5 motorcycles for carrying a passenger
1949 Imme R100 (above)
West Germany
Collection: The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
WATCH THE...
While the first patent for an ‘electrical motorcycle’ was filed in 1895, and an electric tandem bicycle was exhibited at the 1896 Stanley Cycle Show in London, it wasn’t until the 2000s that electric power became a viable alternative to the combustion engine. Like all emerging technologies, electric motorcycles are not currently able to keep up with the high speeds and long distances of their established fuel-guzzling counterparts. However, new brands continue to enter the electric market to showcase the latest in innovative technology and designs.
RELATED: SOCOVEL ELECTRIC 1942
Electric and petrol-alternative motorcycles have promise to be the future of sustainable transport. Compared to cars, they generally cost less to purchase, consume fewer resources and cause less pollution. Motorcycle designers are now also experimenting with more sustainable materials to build motorcycles, including recycled plastics, bamboo and wood.
‘The Motorcycle’ exhibition was in Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) from 28 November 2020 until 26 April 2021.
DELVE DEEPER: Browse the FULL LIST OF MOTORCYCLES
RELATED: Read more about THE BIKES ON DISPLAY
1 Vespa Elettrica 2019
Seventy-four years after the Vespa debuted in 1946, this iconic scooter has been reinvented with the introduction of the electric-powered Vespa Elettrica. Designed for navigating city streets and crawling traffic, the Elettrica is envisioned to be the electric equivalent of a 50 cc combustion-engine scooter. With the same curved fairings and smooth lines that Vespa riders know and love, the Elettrica aims to not only provide people with affordable mobility but also make their movements more environmentally sustainable. This scooter has a reverse gear for ease of parking, and will take 4 hours to fully charge when plugged in to a regular household socket.
Specifications
Country: Italy
Power: 4 kW (5 hp)
Engine: Electric motor with 4.2 kWh battery
Designer: Piaggo
Production: 2018-present
2 Tarform Luna Prototype 01 2019
While many future-focused motorcycle brands have turned to electric technology to deal with growing concerns regarding sustainability, Tarform has gone a step further to consider the environmental impact of all elements of their groundbreaking Luna Prototype. This 40 kWh lithium-ion battery-powered motorcycle’s bodywork is made from fully recyclable and biodegradable materials. With a sleek modern look, environmentally friendly approach and lack of noise and fumes, the Luna is appealing to atypical motorcycle riders looking for a clean way to travel the city. Designed to withstand the test of time, the Tarform Luna Prototype 01 has been built for ‘upgradeability and not obsolescence’ — any element from the battery to the panelling can be swapped for a custom look.
Specifications
Country: USA
Power: 40 kW (54 hp)
Engine: Electric motor with 10 kWh battery
Designer: Taras Kravtchouk
Production: 2018-present
3 Zooz Concept 01 2019
In the words of Zooz designer Chris Zahner, ‘The amazing thing about electric bikes is how simple they are. Motors, heat exchangers, exhaust systems and gas tanks are requisite masses on combustion motorcycles. But the electric motorcycle can leave a whole lot more room for interpretation, by minimising the number of elements necessary.’ The Zooz electric bike is an incredibly simple concept presented in an elegant, linear package. The battery is concealed under the seat, and in the middle, where all the propulsion happens traditionally, there is nothing – a void. The Zooz shows what a contemporary electric bike looks like when stripped down to its most basic elements.
Specifications
Country: USA
Power: 4.3 kW (6 hp)
Engine: Electric motor with 0.84 kWh battery
Designer: Christopher Zahner
Production: Custom
4 Cake Kalk OR 2019
The Kalk OR is an electric off-road performance motorcycle that handles bustling cities as well as rocky cross-country paths. This minimalist bike has injection-moulded polycarbonate bodywork and is dominated by a 51.8-volt battery, which allows the rider to choose between four-stroke and two-stroke modes. Despite its futuristic look, the Kalk OR is fully street legal. With a top speed of only 90 km/h, the Kalk OR may not be able to keep up with many of its road-going counterparts, but provides a green alternative for modern riders.
Specifications
Country: Sweden
Power: 11 kW (15 hp)
Engine: Electric motor with 2.6 kWh battery
Designer: Stefan Ytterborn
Production: 2019-present
5 Savic C-Series 2020
The motorcycle industry is embracing electric technology, with electric vehicles entering the market at an increasing rate. Savic Motorcycles founder Dennis Savic describes the Savic C-Series – Australia’s first full-size electric motorcycle – as ‘a unique offering with the most advanced features and functionality that the materials, engineering, electronic controls, electrical technology and 3D printing can offer today’.
DELVE DEEPER: SAVIC C-SERIES 2020
Specifications
Country: Australia
Power: 60 kW (80 hp)
Engine: Electric motor with 11 kWh battery
Designer: Dennis Savic
Production: 2020-present
Read more about Motorcycles / Subscribe to QAGOMA YouTube to go behind-the-scenes
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