Conservation Team

Conservation is a fundamental part of Gallery operations, preserving and maintaining the thousands of works in the Gallery's collections to ensure they will be available for future generations.

The conservation team works closely with Gallery colleagues to evaluate and monitor environments for works of art on display, in storage, and during their travel to other institutions for exhibitions.

Time changes the condition of a work of art, but there are many other factors that can also have a detrimental effect, among them excessive light, temperature and humidity, dust, vibration, insects and vandalism. The conservator's role is to prevent, slow down, remedy or reverse decay and damage to objects.

The Gallery's conservation team is made up of Lynn Campbell, paper conservator; Edward Sakowski, conservator of oil paintings; and Ben Braithwaite, gilding and frame conservator. With extensive international training in the history and technology of art materials and techniques, they are responsible for researching and developing specific treatments for oil paintings, watercolours, prints, drawings, photographs, picture frames, mixed media objects and outdoor sculptures.

Research is an important part of the conservator's work, as is keeping aware of new art media, materials and technology which can present constant challenges in the conservation of contemporary art. Day-to-day tasks include meticulous condition reporting of objects on display and in transit, treatment reports on the conservation of artworks, and training Gallery staff in the correct methods of handling and caring for art during installation. Disaster-preparedness training is another important part of the role of the conservation team, so that the safety of the collection is assured in the event of damage or a disaster.