The Art of Collecting

a conversation with Diana Jaquillard

Diana Jaquillard with the artist Oakey’s work Totem Grove 2020 as part of the Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition 2020. Photo by Diana Jaquillard

The Art of Collecting: a conversation with Diana Jaquillard by Henry Wolff

Long-term collectors and supporters of the arts, Diana and Philippe Jaquillard, are passionate about creating meaningful impact for artists. Here, Diana shares with Henry what inspires her love for the arts, and how collecting works can transform the careers of aspiring creatives.

Few connoisseurs of the Adelaide art world have as iconic presence as Diana Jaquillard – but beyond her immaculate style, working with husband Philippe, she has for nearly twenty-five-years invested in, and transformed the careers of our state’s emerging artists.

Henry Wolff, Helpmann Academy Engagement & Development Manager, sat down with Diana to seek her advice about collecting, and to chat about what inspires her passion for the arts.

You’ve been a long-term and prolific supporter of the arts and have been involved with Helpmann Academy for quite a while – what inspires you to give?
I graduated from SASA (South Australian School of Art) in the 1970s, majoring in Graphic Design. In those days, it was a much more holistic course, being 4 years instead of 3.

The first year for all students was heavily fine arts orientated, and an excellent grounding, including painting, general drawing, life drawing, history of art, anatomy, perspective drawing, print making, sculpture and more.

Some of my lecturers during my studies were part of the Progressive Art Movement (PAM), a small but tough, arts organisation active in Adelaide between 1974-78. Recently I attended the FUMA (Flinders University Museum of Art) exhibition If you don’t fight… you lose, revisiting the prints and posters of the era. The exhibition was part of South Australia’s History Festival 2024, the theme for which was POWER.

My next three years of study was focussed on graphic design, which then also included illustration, photography, fashion drawing and life drawing. There were no computers involved until 1986, so it was all done manually.

I made an economic decision to study graphic design, but was fortunate to have had a further comprehensive appreciation of the arts instilled in me by being enriched by, immersed in, and being able to observe the process of creation of the diverse, colourful, cerebral artworks made by my cohorts studying in the fine arts departments.

This environment nurtured a love of the arts, started me on my journey as an art collector when still a student, and gave me a strong awareness early in life of the difficulties of achieving success and making a living as a fine artist.

It stimulated my synergy with Helpmann Academy around 24 years ago, as the president of the Helpmann Friends Committee, then with two stints (including my current position) as a member of the Helpmann Academy Foundation Board, which raises funds for grants, awards, residencies, mentorships and much more.

Helpmann Academy assists emerging artists in the visual and performing arts in three universities during their studies, as well as up to five years after graduation.

From the Helpmann Academy archives: Diana (right) Philippe Jaquillard (centre) with great arts supporter, then Partner of Fisher Jeffries, and past Chair of the Helpmann Academy Board of Governors, Gary Watts attending an early Helpmann Academy event at Fisher Jeffries.

Philippe and you have collected for many years and have kept the works together in your private warehouse. Are there any stories about the artists or works you’ve collected that have stuck in your mind?

Yes, my husband Phil who is a Chartered Accountant, has shared my passion for the arts, as well as being a generous supporter of the arts. He has an excellent aesthetic sensibility and is a lover of visual, performing arts, including film, ballet and photography. 

He acknowledges as I do, the importance of giving to society to assist the arts which enriches us all and to charitable organisations. Phil was a long-term volunteer board member as Treasurer of Sight For All and the Mary Potter Hospice.

Yes, we have artworks in our warehouse, as well as our home, offices and other properties, because art enhances many kinds of environments.

We have many stories about fascinating studio visits, artwork acquisitions and all of the friendships that they have engendered along the way.

Our art collection comprises a mix of mid-career, indigenous, renowned Australian and international artists, in a variety of genres and media. A few of these include artists as diverse as Reko Rennie, Del Kathryn Barton, Paul Yore, Tom Gleghorn, Robert Juniper, Rafa Macarrón, Chen Man, Tom Moore, Clare Belfrage, Gareth Sansom, Owen Yalandja, Salvador Dali, Ivor Hele, Robert Hannaford, Giles Bettison, Gerry Wedd, Bert Flugelman, The Huxleys, Hush, Frank Bauer, Ray Caesar (Toronto), Sally Bourke and Joan Ross.

It also includes the works of artists supported by Helpmann Academy recipients when they were emerging, such as Liam Fleming, Anika Gardner, Michael Carney, Oakey, Jeremy Piert, Janice Vitkovsky, Laura Wills, and Rosina Possingham + Brianna Speight.

Diana Jaquillard with the artist Oakey and their work Totem Grove 2020 as part of the Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition 2020. Photo by Diana Jaquillard

We have a love of three-dimensional works, so we collect glass, ceramics and sculpture as well as paintings and digital art.

We count many artists amongst our friends collected along the journey, follow the careers of the artists whose works we have acquired or provided awards to, and stay in touch with many. All have been generous in providing narratives about their rationales, motivations, methods, developing careers, and with advice or assistance in effecting art installations.

The stories are too many to tell, but each of our artworks has a memorable story attached to it which includes warm experiences, personal interactions and travel to exotic places to art fairs. The art world is an enthralling world to inhabit, because it includes so many sensory experiences including colour, texture, paint, textiles, music, dance, theatre, film, as well as all the captivating and intriguing characters that inhabit it!

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